India and Australia Commit For Stronger
Scientific & Technological TIES
Union Minister for
Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Mr. Kapil
Sibal has held discussions with Senator Kim Carr, Australian
Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
at Melbourne. Both Ministers agreed to step up scientific
cooperation between the two countries.
Mr. Sibal is visiting Australia as
Guest of the Australian Government from February 7 to
12, 2008 and his visit is being coordinated by the Australian
Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. He is also
the first Indian Minister to visit Australia after the
new Government led by the Leader of the Australian Labor
Party, Mr. Kevin Rudd MP, was sworn in on 3rd of December
2007.
Taking note of the ongoing 21 projects
under the India-Australia Strategic Research Fund, the
two Ministers agreed to further strengthen bilateral
scientific cooperation focussing on industrial research
and development and high technology areas such as nano-composites,
bio-energy, health and agricultural bio-technology,
climate change and renewable energy particularly using
photo-voltaic technology. They also agreed to set-up
a Joint Working Group (JWG) to create a roadmap for
strengthening bilateral S&T cooperation in the next
six months.
During the visit, Mr Sibal met with
Senator Ms. Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change
and Water, and Mr. Robert McClelland, MP, Attorney General.
He also met the Victorian Governor, Professor David
de Kretser, AC: Victorian Minister for Environment,
Climate Change and Innovation, Mr. Gavin Jennings, MLC:
and NSW Minister for Science and Medical Research, Ms.
Verity Firth, MP. Mr. Sibal also visited three of the
Austria’s group of eight Universities (University
of New South Wales, University of Sydney and the University
of Melbourne), amongst the leading universities of the
world, as well as some of the Premier R&D institutions
e.g. Wolter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research,
centenary Institute of Cancer and Cell Biology and Bio
21 Institute.
Mr Sibal also addressed the Australia-India
business council at Sydney, and invited the Australian
Industry to jointly work with their Indian counterparts
for accessing global market for the production of world
class products at affordable prices using complimentary
strengths available in two countries.
