The two nations are moving towards closer technological and scientific cooperation.
Together, India and the UK will establish the India-UK "NET Zero" Innovation Virtual Centre. The announcement was made by Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space.
In the presence of his British counterpart, UK Minister George Freeman, he was serving as chair of the India-UK Science & Innovation Council. According to Singh, India is rapidly transforming under Prime Minister Narendra Modi into an economic powerhouse, propelled by its exceptional technological and innovative capabilities, which the entire world has started to recognise, particularly in light of the success of the COVID vaccine.
The two leaders urged greater collaboration between India and the UK in research and technology.
Singh, who co-chaired the meeting with Minister Freeman, said that India is moving quickly and is committed to reaching its environmental and climate change goals on schedule.
He emphasised how the two nations' close cooperation has been strengthened by the ambitious "Roadmap 2030," which offers a framework for relations between the UK and India in the areas of health, the environment, trade, education, science and technology, and the military.
The UK has become India's second-largest overseas partner in research and innovation, the India Minister informed his British colleague, thanks in great part to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to him, the India-UK Science and Technology (S&T) collaboration has been expanding quickly, and the two countries' joint research programme has increased from almost nothing too close to £300-400 million.
The proposal to establish an India-UK "NET Zero" Innovation Virtual Centre was well received by both Ministers. This centre will serve as a platform for stakeholders from the two nations to collaborate on projects related to the decarbonization of manufacturing processes, transportation systems, and green hydrogen as a renewable energy source. According to Singh, the primary pillars of India's net zero journey, according to Singh, are energy efficiency and renewable energy, and India has already taken the lead on numerous programmes like the India Solar Alliance and the Clean Energy Mission.
The multifaceted, multi institutional, multi agency cooperation, he continued, encompasses issues like energy security, food and agriculture, water, climate change, environmental studies, as well as social and cultural transformations happening in both nations. He recalled that the Prime Ministers of both countries stressed their shared commitment to a strengthened partnership in science, education, research, and innovation during the most recent India-UK virtual summit, which took place in May 2021. He also mentioned that he was looking forward to the upcoming Ministerial Science and Innovation Council (SIC).
In addition to the MOES and UK Met Office collaboration in weather and climate science, which aims to conduct joint research on natural hazards in the South Asian monsoon system, improve the modelling capabilities at different scales, and improve tools and techniques for risk based (ensemble) forecasting of natural hazards, he expressed satisfaction with the MOES-NEKTON joint research programme towards exploration and conservation of marine biodiversity under the Deep Ocean Mission in India.
Both leaders urged for fresh partnerships for joint R&D projects between BBSRC-DBT and Health & MOES-NERC Call in the areas of solid earth risks and farmed animal disease.
Minister Freeman was invited to the G20 Research Ministers meeting in Mumbai on July 6, 2023 by Jitendra Singh, who also urged the scientific communities of both nations to attend. India is currently hosting the G20 Presidency and is hosting a number of scientific meetings, including Science 20 (S20), Research and Innovation (RIIG), and Scientific Advisers meetings.