Lok Sabha Question No. 2518 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: India-Korea Science and Technology Ministers’ Meeting
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, SUDHEER GUPTA, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, S. RAJENDRAN, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2518 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1/8/2018

## INDIA-KOREA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MINISTERS' MEETING

2518. SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO: SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA: KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH: SHRI S. RAJENDRAN: SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN: SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  fourth  India-Korea  Science  and  Technology  Ministers'  Steering  Committee  meeting  was  held recently; (b) if so, the details thereof along with the issues discussed in the meeting; (c) the number of Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) signed in the field of Science and Technology along with the terms and conditions thereto; (d) the advantage that India will get out of these MoUs; and
- (e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to expand and boost scientific collaboration with other countries?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES AND MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ, {Éßl´ÉÉÒ ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ +ÉÉè® {ÉªÉÉÇ´É®hÉ, ´ÉxÉ A´ÉÆ VÉãÉ´ÉÉªÉÖ {ÉÉÊ®´ÉiÉÇxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ

(bÉ. c­ÉÇ ´ÉvÉÇxÉ)

- (a) & (b):  Yes Madam. The fourth India-Korea Science and Technology Ministers' Steering Committee meeting was held in New Delhi on 9 th July 2018. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Science of the Republic of India and Mr. You Young Min, Minister for Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea led the Indian and Republic of Korean delegations, respectively. The issues discussed during the meeting included (i) ways and means to augment cooperation and exchange of researchers in science, technology and innovation between the two countries and (ii) establishing India-Korea Centre for Research and Innovation (IKCRI) in New Delhi as the hub for systematic operation and management of all cooperative programmes between the two countries. (c) Following Four Memorandum of Understandings were signed in the field of Science & Technology: (i) Establishment of Future Strategy Group to build a collaborative platform that can utilize the potential of both the countries  towards  fostering  innovation  and  create  impact  by  co-funding  collaborative  enterprise-led  joint Research & Development projects in areas of digital transformation, future  manufacturing, future utilities and health care; (ii) Cooperation  in  Biotechnology  &  Bioeconomy  to  foster  joint  research  in  health  and  medicine,  agro-fishery products developed with the adoption of biotechnology; environment-related challenges and developing environmental  and  energy  sectors  through  bio-technology,  big  data  biotechnology;  bio-research  resources; synthetic biology, genome editing and microbiomes, etc. (iii) MoU between Indian Council for Scientific and Industrial Research   (CSIR) and South Korean National Research Council for Science & Technology (NST) aimed at promoting joint research, exchange of researchers, resources and  information  through  cooperation  between  CSIR  and  NST  in  their  priority  areas  including  water,  energy, biotechnology, alternate materials and robotics (iv) MoU between Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai and Korea Institute of Science & Technology to facilitate exchange of PhD students. (d) The cooperation will foster R&D collaboration between Indian industries and academia by leveraging Indian strength in basic research through partnering with Korean institutions and industries known for consistent strength in refinement of innovation and making such refinement marketable. (e) Presently,  India  has  bilateral  S&T  cooperation  agreements  with  80  countries  and  active  cooperation  with around 47 countries. During the recent years the cooperation has strengthened significantly with Australia, Canada, EU,  France,  Germany,  Israel,  Italy,  Japan,  Russia,  South  Korea,  UK  and  USA  through  similar  arrangements. Similarly, the level of cooperation with African nations has also been significantly enhanced through India Africa S&T Initiative  and  the  soft  prowess  of  S&T  been  leveraged  to  engage  under  India's  Act  East  policy  with  neighbouring countries.
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