India - U.S. Science &
Technology Relations: Harnessing the Potential
S&T
cooperation between India and USA is characterized by over five decades of
successful and productive exchange of scientists and scientific ideas,
joint workshops and conferences, joint/collaborative research projects,
training/fellowship programs and technology transfer in virtually all
areas of Science & Technology - traditional and frontier. Indians and Americans have demonstrated a natural affinity
for partnership in pursuit of scientific excellence and achievements.
It
is one if the oldest and most extensive bilateral S&T cooperation
entered into by India. In the late 1950’s, Indian and American
scientists began to collaborate on agricultural research.
This activity was expanded in the 60’s into other fields of
science and education, such as establishment of Indian Institute of
Technology, Kanpur; National Council of Educational Research &
Training, New Delhi; and initiation of some major projects in health
sector on prevention and other aspects of parasitic & communicable
diseases, nutrition, cancer etc. Satellite
Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) program was undertaken in the
70’s in collaboration between the US National Aeronautic and Space
Administration (NASA) and the
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
S&T
SUB-COMMISSION:
The
Indo-U.S. Joint Commission on Economics & Commerce, Science &
Technology, Education & Culture, and Agriculture was established in
1974. As provided for in the Joint Commission Agreement, an S&T
Sub-Commission was established in 1975. The S&T Sub-Commission had
seven Working Groups in different areas: Material & Physical Sciences;
Earth Sciences; Atmospheric & Marine Sciences; Energy; Environment
& Ecology; Information S&T; Health,
Medical and Life Sciences. These Working Groups generally met
concurrently with the meetings of the Sub-Commission.
A large number of joint research programs and workshops were
developed and implemented as a result of the activities of the S&T
Sub-Commission.
SCIENCE
& TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE (STI):
In
1983, a new cooperative fast track program known as Science &
Technology Initiative was jointly established
for an initial period of three years to enhance S&T
collaboration in areas of
Agriculture, Health, Monsoon Research, Biomass Research and Engineering
and Solid State Science. The
National Science Foundation (USA) and the Department of Science and
Technology (India) were identified as nodal agencies to implement the
program, which operated on cost sharing basis.
The program continued till 1991.
US-INDIA
FUND (USIF):
In
January 1987, the two governments signed an agreement
for the establishment of US-India
Fund (USIF) to carry out joint activities such as workshops, exchange of
scientists and experts, joint research programs, etc. in the field of
education, culture and sciences by using US-held rupees
from the PL-480 funds. USIF
was initially set up for ten years but was extended by a year. A large
number workshops and joint
scientific projects were developed under this program
S&T
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM:
S&T
Fellowship Program was a parallel activity during the period 1991-94 under
which 70 Indian scientists spent 3-12 months in the USA and 10 US
scientists came to India. The
Program was supported primarily by the US Agency for International
Development (USAID). The Department of Science and Technology, India,
contributed the international passage of the Indian scientists.
DST-DOS/NASA-NOAA
MOU:
A
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for scientific cooperation in the area
of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences was signed between the Department of
Space (DOS) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the
Government of India and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of
the United States of America on December 16, 1997, in Washington DC.
Specific areas of cooperation include weather analysis and
forecasting techniques; satellite product development for atmospheric,
land and ocean parameters; applications to flood forecasting and drought
monitoring. The MOU provides for exchange of data and derived products
between the two countries from Indian National Satellite (INSAT) as well
as Geostationary Operational Environmental
Satellite (GOES) of the USA, in near real time over dedicated
telecommunication links to be specially set up between India and the
USA. With these
dedicated links, it will also be possible for Indian scientists to access
scientific data available at US web sites in a much faster mode than at
present.
ICAR
MOU’S:
A
Memorandum of Understanding between Indian Council of Agricultural
Research (ICAR), New Delhi and Cornell University, Ithaca, New York for
cooperation in the area of Agricultural Research was signed in November
1998. With the signing
of this MOU, both sides agreed to promote research, training and
improvement of production techniques through exchange of faculty,
scientists and technologists. There
will also be an exchange of germplasm and breeding material, as well as
scientific literature, information and methodology.
ICAR had signed a similar MOU with Iowa State University during
early 1998. Earlier, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed with the Texas
Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas A&M University, Texas, in July,
1997, for cooperation in the field of agricultural research.
INDO-US
VACCINE ACTION PROGRAM:
An
MOU for the Indo-US Vaccine Action Program was signed in 1987 under the
Health, Medical and Life Sciences Working Group of the Indo-US S&T Sub
Commission. The program is now in its third phase, and is extended until
2002. The last meeting of the Joint Working Group was held in July 2000,
in Washington DC to identify the focus areas for further research in
vaccine development and allied areas. The cooperating agencies on the
Indian side are: Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Health &
Family Welfare, and the Indian Council of Medical Research; Those on the
US side are: Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and
United States Agency for International Development. A similar program
exists on cooperation on contraceptive and reproductive health research.
DST-NSF
PROGRAM:
A
program for Indo-US collaborative research projects was initiated in 1997.
The cooperating agencies are: Department of Science & Technology
(India) and the National
Science Foundation (USA). This
program supports workshops and joint research projects in fundamental
areas of science and technology (excluding medical sciences). Proposals
under this arrangement are submitted simultaneously to DST by the Indian
collaborator and to NSF by the US researchers.
INDO-US
S&T FORUM:
An agreement to set up an Indo-US Science & Technology
Forum was signed by India’s Minister of Science & Technology, Dr. M.
M. Joshi, and the US Secretary of State, Ms. M K Albright, during the
visit of President Clinton to India.
The Forum was formally launched by the Hon’ble Minister of
Science & Technology, Dr. M. M. Joshi, on July 20, 2000.
The Forum will facilitate and promote interaction, in India and
USA, between government, academia and industry, in science &
technology. The Forum will promote research and development, transfer of
technology, and creation of comprehensive electronic reference sources for
Indo-US S&T operation and electronic exchange and dissemination of
information on Indo-US S&T cooperation.
The Forum has been registered as a Society with the Office of the
Registrar of Societies in New Delhi on June 23, 2000.
A meeting of the Governing Board of the Forum was scheduled for
September, 2001 in Washington DC; the meeting was postponed due to the
tragic events of September 11.
INDO-US S&T ROUNDTABLES:
In conjunction with Prime Minister Vajpayee’s last visit to
USA, representatives from India and USA held the 2nd High Level
Round Table on Science and Technology on September 15, 2000, at
Washington, DC; the 1st roundtable was held in Hyderabad,
during President Clinton’s visit to India. Distinguished scientists and
administrators from both countries participated in these meetings.
Both the meetings were co-chaired by India’s Secretary of Science
& Technology, Prof. V.S. Ramamurthy and the US Director of the Office
of Science & Technology Policy and Assistant to the President, Dr.
Neal Lane. The Round table aimed at discussing the new directions for the
21st century in Indo-US collaborations in science and
technology. A joint communiqué issued at the conclusion of the 2nd
Roundtable was presented to the visiting Prime Minister by Prof. V.S.
Ramamurthy, Secretary, DST, Dr. Manju Sharma, Secretary, DBT, Dr. Neal
Lane, Director, OSTP and Dr. Rita Colwell, Director, National Science
Foundation (USA). The Round Tables and the Forum represent intensified
efforts for closer cooperation and stronger partnership in science and
technology.
AMERICAN
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES INTERACTION:
American
Professional Societies have begun to express an increasing interest in
India and Indian scientists. For the first time in its 77 year history,
the American Institute of Chemists elected an Indian American - Dr A K N
Nandedkar, Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,
Howard University, and Director, Genetics, Newborn Screening Service,
Howard University Hospital, as its President for the year 2000 and 2001.
One of the first actions of the newly elected president was to set up a
chapter in India. Professional
Societies representing Indian American Scientists maintain strong
interaction with scientists in India. The presidents of the US National
Academies of Sciences and Engineering have also expressed a strong desire
for further cooperation with India.
S&T
FELLOWSHIPS: