Lok Sabha Question No. 5118 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: International Collaborations for Indian Researchers
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri P C Mohan, Smt. Smita Uday Wagh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5118 ANSWERED ON 02/04/2025

## INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS FOR INDIAN RESEARCHERS

## 5118. SHRI P C MOHAN:

SMT. SMITA UDAY WAGH:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken steps to support international  collaborations  for  Indian  researchers,  students  and professionals;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  measures  implemented  by  the  Government  to  support researchers by creating international opportunities and ensuring job security within the country with the aim of preventing brain drain?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी तथा पृ थ्िी विज्ञान मंत्रालय क े राज्य मंत्री ( स्ितंत्र प्रभार) ( डॉ. जितेंद्र स ंह )

(a) to (b): Ministry  of  Science  and  Technology  is  facilitating international cooperation in all major areas of Science, Technology and  Innovation  with  40  countries  through  instruments  such  as Memorandum  of Understanding (MoU), Letter of Intent (LoI), Programme  of  Cooperation  (PoC)  or  other  Agreements  to  support international  collaborations  for  Indian  researchers,  students,  and professionals. Every year, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) launch about 16 joint calls for Research and Development (R&D) proposals to enhance international bilateral collaboration as well as multilateral collaboration.  Binational  bodies  such  as  Indo-French  Centre  for Promotion of Advanced Research (CEFIPRA), Indo-German Science and Technology Centre (IGSTC) and Indo-US Science and Technology

Forum (IUSSTF) offer various kinds of collaborative opportunities for the research community. Collaborative partnership programme such as DBTInternational Human Frontier Science Programme Organization (HFSPO) and Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP) with Wellcome Trust (UK) are fellowship programmes aimed to support high-quality biological research. India is also participating in the state-of-the-art research facilities like Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) in Germany, Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) in USA,  Square  Kilometer  Array  (SKA)  in  Australia  and  South  Africa wherein India works closely with many leading countries across the globe.  India  is  also  a  part  of  European  Organization  for  Nuclear Research  (CERN,  Geneva);  ELLETRA  Synchrotron  (Italy);  Sp-Ring-8 (Japan); KEK Accelerator (Japan); Fermi-Lab (US); Synchrotron light source (Brazil and Singapore); Synchrotron Radiation Sources Beamline (Russia) etc. These collaborations helped in facilitating joint R&D projects,  seminars,  fellowships,  training  programmes,  increased research capacity building and infrastructure development, exchange  and  exposure  visits, access  to advanced  facilities, technology transfer, joint publications etc.

- (c) Ministry  of  Science  and  Technology  has  formulated  several schemes  to  create  international  opportunities  and  ensuring  job security within the country with the aim of preventing brain drain. DST through the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Faculty Scheme provides attractive avenues and opportunities  for  international  collaboration.  Some  academic  and research institutions offer sabbatical to faculty / scientists to take up research positions in international universities and laboratories while retaining their regular job in the country. Partnership in global mega research infrastructure facilities enables access to our researchers to  advanced  facilities  &  participation  in  mega-science/  consortia projects. These international opportunities and availability of sophisticated research infrastructure facilities in our research and academic  sector  ensure  retaining  of  quality  researchers  in  the country and help preventing brain drain.

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