Canada-India Joint Statement on Future Plans for S&T Cooperation

News Release

November 18, 2005
No. 223
International Trade Minister Jim Peterson and India’s Minister of State for Science and
Technology and Ocean Development, Kapil Sibal, today issued a joint statement on
science and technology cooperation between the two countries.
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The joint statement is attached.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Jacqueline LaRocque
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Trade
(613) 992-7332
Media Relations Office
International Trade Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
JOINT STATEMENT BY CANADA’S MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL
TRADE AND INDIA’S MINISTER OF STATE FOR SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY AND OCEAN DEVELOPMENT

•         Canada and India agreed to specific areas of S&T collaboration in research
fields of mutual interest and benefit, initially focusing on nanoscience and
nanomedicine, information and communications technology, biotechnology and
health research and medical devices, sustainable and alternate energy and
environmental technologies, and earth sciences and disaster management.

•         It was agreed that each country would designate an expert coordinator to
advance collaborative activity in each of these five themes.

•         Canada and India agreed to enter into negotiations to launch the Canada-India
R&D and Innovation Program. This will be a bilateral program to jointly fund
projects in the industrial and academic sectors that have a strong potential for
commercialization.

•         Both countries will come to an agreement in early 2006 on an implementation
plan to foster and identify joint research activity that will be undertaken between
our respective research communities.

•         In order to explore new partnership opportunities, Canada sent a significant
nanotechnology delegation to the 2005 Technology Summit in New Delhi. Senior
members of Minister Sibal's delegation visited nanotechnology research facilities
in Canada during this visit. Canada and India agreed to establish a joint
Nanotechnology Working Group and undertake new initiatives, including
scientific exchanges, collaborative networks and commercially focused missions.

•         Another area of immediate focus will be information and communications
technology, given its strength and importance to both the Canadian and Indian
economies. A vivid example of tangible cooperation resulting from the
Technology Summit is the memorandum of understanding signed today by ITAC
(Information Technology Association of Canada) and India’s NASSCOM
(National Association of Software and Service Companies).

•         Ministers Peterson and Sibal will appoint a joint committee to oversee the
implementation of the bilateral S&T agreement. The joint committee will have its
first meeting in India in early 2006 to develop the bilateral S&T work plan and
initial implementing arrangements.

•         Ministers Peterson and Sibal demonstrated their personal commitment to
achieving progress under the Canada-India S&T Agreement. The two ministers
will oversee the work of the joint committee and receive its annual reports.

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Canada-India Joint Statement on Future Plans for S&T Cooperation

News Release

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