UK and India to deepen collaboration on science and technology

The UK and India have committed to building stronger collaborations across emerging areas of technology and science. 

Following a meeting between UK Science Minister George Freeman and Indian Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh, the two countries have signed an agreement that will launch a raft of joint research schemes designed to push progress on major issues facing the world, from climate change and pandemic preparedness through to AI and machine learning. 

The new partnership is designed to promote relationships and knowledge exchanges between UK and Indian researchers, and to enable quicker, deeper collaboration on science and technology that will drive economic growth, improve lives and create jobs. 

Programmes include the establishment of a new UK-India Net Zero Innovation Virtual Centre focusing on industrial decarbonisation and launching the first ever UK-India scientific deep sea voyage.

Alongside this agreement, India has been named as a partner for the UK’s International Science Partnerships Fund, which will see £3.3 million UK funding, matched by India, towards a technology and skills partnership programme. This will allow UK and Indian researchers to boost skills, technologies and knowledge in areas such as AI, machine learning and bio-imaging.

Tackling shared challenges

Minister of State for the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology George Freeman said: “India is rapidly building on its phenomenal software and innovation sectors to become a global powerhouse in science and technology. With our extensive trading and cultural links, shared democratic values and interest in urgent global issues from green technology and agri-tech to biosecurity and pandemic preparedness, we have very strong platforms for deepening research collaboration.”

“Today’s agreement is part of our program of deepening UK collaboration with other global science superpowers on ground-breaking innovation and research, to help tackle shared global challenges. This partnership will grow the sectors, companies and jobs of tomorrow for the benefit of both our countries and the globe.”

Other recent announcements made by the UK Government include the launch of the International Science Partnerships Fund in Japan, an MoU on science with Switzerland, and agreements on closer collaboration on agri-tech with South Africa.