INDIA AND ITALY TO ENHANCE SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION November 11,1999 India and Italy have entered into a new phase of collaboration in science and technology with a substantial increase in the scope and content of the present cooperation. The programme of cooperation was signed by the Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Prof. V.S. Ramamurthy and the Ambassador of Italy Mr.Gaetano Zucconi after two days of discussions in New Delhi and Calcutta on the 9th and 10th of this month. It was signed at a function in Calcutta organised by the Indo-Italian chamber of commerce. India and Italy will now enhance their collaborative activities in such diverse areas like materials science and technology, energy and environment (including Antarctica research), technologies for monument conservation and restoration, medicine and health, electronics and robotics, agriculture and biotechnology etc. New areas of activities have been identified based on public demand for joint proposals and projects selected on scientific merit. Joint work and advanced training of Indian scientists and engineers at Sincrotrone Trieste and exchange of exploratory missions for firming up of new initiatives are also envisaged in the coming period. There is a strong possibility of Indian scientists getting access to several other Italian advanced research facilities like National Laboratory at Gran Sasso and Photovoltaic Research Centres at Portici and Serre. Indian researchers have been showing great interest in conducting their experiments on Italian Synchrotrone radiation facility at Elettra. Prof. Ramamurthy deeply appreciated the Italian Government for providing opportunities to Indian researchers for interacting with Italian specialists in the area of Physics, technology and application of Synchrotrone radiation. He said the experience gained has also made important contributions to the Indian Sychrotrone programmes such as INDUS-2 which is coming up at Indore The Italian ambassador said at the signing ceremony that his government has always supported the cause of Indian research and development. It has catalysed collaborative links between the scientific communities of the two sides and has been positive to all initiatives of immediate relevance to the development of Indian science, he said. |