India and Russia discuss collaboration in scientific education and economic growth

Mr. Alexander Povalko, Vice-Minister of Education and Science & Technology in the Government of Russian Federation called on Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, MoS in Prime Minister`s Office (PMO), Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Space and Atomic Energy, here today and discussed various areas where India and Russia could collaborate for scientific education and economic growth. Dr. Jitendra Singh pointed out that five areas had been identified where India-Russia collaboration could prove effective and fruitful. These included Bio-Medical Sciences, Nuclear Power, Information & Technology, Energy Efficiency and Aerospace, he added. Dr. Jitendra Singh also said that not only the two countries have shared a traditionally healthy relationship ever-since independence and a reflection of this is seen even in the areas of Science including Medical science. There have been a number of programmes in which the students from two countries have availed of the educational facilities. With the successful launch of Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) on September 24, Dr Jitendra Singh said, India has also joined the august Space Group, of which Russia is also a member along with USA and Europe and this adds yet another dimension to the potential cooperation between the two countries in the area of Science & Technology. Dr. Jitendra Singh also referred to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” programme launched today and said that this will certainly attract friendly nations like Russia to explore the possibilities of cost effective manufacturing and export from India. Dr. Jitendra Singh said that India has a huge infrastructure in areas of Bio-medical Sciences, particularly, genomes and stem-cell, and Russian scholars will have an ample opportunity to avail of this. Any future research will prove viable and sustainable only if it has practical applications and generates economy, he said. The Russian Minister expressed his agreement with the suggestions put forth by his Indian counter-part and said that Russia would be happy to develop joint India-Russia Science & Technology centres and work for methods of technology transfer between the two countries. He also offered to invite Indian scholars to avail of the services of newly set up Skoltech University near Moscow