India and Israel to enhance scientific cooperation

India and Israel have decided to tighten ongoing scientific cooperation with special emphasis on research in the field of renewable energy and computer sciences.

“We have outlined several areas of cooperation but will be mainly focussing in the area of renewable energy and computer sciences in the coming years where we see tremendous potential for both the countries”, India’s Minister for Science and Technology, Prithviraj Chavan, who is on a three day visit to Israel told PTI.

The one million USDs joint R&D fund set up by the two countries will be inviting proposals for research in these areas, Mr. Chavan said.

The joint industrial R&D fund between India and Israel to encourage new investors and joint industrial ventures was set up during Mr. Chavan’s predecessor, Kapil Sibal’s term and is now in its third edition where in both the countries contribute half a million USDs each.

The Indian Minister met his Israeli counterpart, Daniel Hershkowitz, here yesterday and the two outlined cooperation in the areas of nanotechnology, biotechnology, water management, non-conventional energy, mathematics and computer sciences as five priority areas of “common interest” for enhanced collaboration.

Hershkowitz being a renowned Professor of Mathematics, Mr. Chavan also proposed setting up a joint institution in India where regular exchanges could take place between mathematicians from both sides in a collaboration that would also not be much demanding financially.

Mr. Chavan also called upon Israeli President Shimon Peres who applauded India’s steadfastness to democratic principles while still maintaining very high rate of economic growth.

The minister visited the famous Technion Institute yesterday and will be holding meetings at the Weizmann Institute of Sciences today where more than 40 Indian scientists are working in what is the single largest community of scientists from abroad.

“The leading Israeli institutions have shown a keen interest in working with our IITs on exchange and collaboration of research, faculty and students. I think this will be an important step in enhancing scientific cooperation between the two countries”, Mr. Chavan said.

He also visited Na’anDan Irrigation systems and a desalination plant to explore possible cooperation in the field of water management.

Agriculture conglomerate, Jain Irrigation Systems, bought 50.01 per cent of Na’anDan Irrigation Systems for 21.5 million USD in June 2007 in what is the largest investment by an Indian company in Israel.

Mr. Chavan said that Indian farmers from dry areas of India like Rajasthan could visit Israel to learn agricultural techniques and water management.