Italy and India sign scientific collaboration agreements
Italy and India have signed a number of accords of cooperation in science and technology, space, education and other areas during an official five-day visit of Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi to India. In the field of science and technology, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and eight agreements have been signed for increased collaboration between the two countries in joint research laboratories. 180 scholarships will also be awarded to Indian scientists with a post-graduate qualification or PhD to carry out their research in Italy. Some 92 high technology areas have been identified in the agreement. These include Earth observation, climate change, agricultural research, information and communications technologies (ICT), bio and neuroinformatics, applied mathematics and informatics, electronics, automation and agro-food. 'I am extremely satisfied,' said Letizia Moratti, Italian Minister for Education and Research, commenting on the signing of the agreement. 'Because these new accords consolidate our international research policy centrered on bilatral collaboration and on the institution of joint laboratories on an equal base, whether scientific or financial,' she added. An agreement has also been signed between G Madhavan Nair, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Sergio Vetrella, president of Italy's Space Agency (ASI) on cooperation in space, science, technology and application.
Countries
India, Italy