3 MoUs inked to promote joint scientific research

New Delhi: Giving a boost to scientific research in the country, Japan and India signed three agreements in the science and technology sector to prepare an exchange programme for their young scientists and promote joint research.

The first pact was signed for an international joint exchange programme between Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (iTHEMS) at Japanese research institute RIKEN and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (Simons-NCBS), Bengaluru. The treaty has been signed to identify and encourage young scientists from both the countries to collaborate in the field of theoretical biology.

The other two MoUs were inked between the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Japan. One of them envisages the establishment of "DBT-AIST International Center for Translational & Environmental Research (DAICENTER)" in Japan to promote science and technology in both the institutions and countries, while the second one is to promote research collaboration between the DBT and the AIST in the field of Life Science and Biotechnology.

"The DIACENTRE expands the scope of the collaboration to focused research activities with several institutions in India and other Asian countries like Sri-Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand at a mission mode," the ministry said in an official release. According to officials, both the countries would also explore research potentials in the ayurvedic sector and India would showcase its research works.

"India would use successful stories of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) to encourage young scientists. The CSIR has made a breakthrough in controlling diabetes by launching ayurvedic medicine BGR-34, which is very effective and pocket-friendly," the official said.

Signing the contract to extend the collaborations, DBT Secretary K Vijay Raghavan said that India and Japan have lots to share in science on the complementary basis and merge experience to education for the next generations and bring their research outcomes to needs of society worldwide. "As Japan stands out with the expertise of its scientists in areas like stem cell research, India can offer its young science brains that can be trained to use this expertise to bring about solutions for diseases," Raghavan said.