India and Japan to Make Concerted Efforts to step-up the Science and Technology Cooperation Agenda

Introduction

The Union Minister for Science, Technology and Earth Science, Dr. Harsh Vardhan and the South African Minister for Science, Technology Ms. Naledi Pandor expressed satisfaction at the on-going India- South Africa collaboration in key areas such as Health Sciences and Biotechnology; Astronomy & Astrophysics, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Green Chemistry and the Mega project in the area of “HIV Vaccine Research Collaboration” with co-funding to the tune of US $ 1 million from both sides. During the 3rd BRICS of Science and Technology Ministerial Meeting held in Moscow on 27th and 28th this month the two side held bilateral discussions on all the projects. 

South African Minister Ms. Pandore desired that India may also help h South Africa specially in Space Science, Agriculture and food security and in converting of Pharma based indigenous knowledge into wealth. 

Dr. Harsh Vardhan said, India will happy to collaborate with South Africa in these areas. He said the present Indian government, has created The Ministry of AYUSH in 2014 for providing better health-care to the public. This will also help in upgrading the educational standards in Indian Systems of Medicines and Homoeopathy colleges in the country; Strengthen existing research institutions and ensure a time-bound research programme on identified diseases for which these systems have an effective treatment. He assured South African Minister, that he will help in building the linkages between two sides in this area. For India- South Africa collaboration in Space Science, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said, India had launched the ASTROSAT satellite for space probe and India will be happy to provide necessary assistance to South Africa. ASTROSAT is India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory. It was launched on a PSLV-XL on 28 September 2015. Further, he said that, Ministry of Earth Sciences is providing farmers centric information using modern tool and techniques which has helped the farmers and helped in crores of rupees being saved. He said, India has a number of international collaborations in earth sciences centric research and services projects and India would be happy to help South Africa too in this area. 

Source

Press Information Bureau, November 02, 2015