Lok Sabha Question No. 2710 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-05
Subject: Bilateral Agreement with South Africa
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: KIRRON KHER

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY**

**DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2710**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 05/08/2015**

**BILATERAL AGREEMENT WITH SOUTH AFRICA**

**2710.	SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER:**

**Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó Ùðüëðó**

**be pleased to state:**

**(a)		whether the Government proposes to renew its bilateral agreement with South Africa for science and innovation;**

**(b)		if so, the details and present status thereof;**

**(c)		whether there are specific areas outlined where India plans to initiate projects with the help of this cooperation and if so, the details thereof, project-wise;**

**(d)		the details of the number of projects that have been taken up during each of the last three years and the current year through the agreement with South Africa; and**

**(e)		the other steps taken by the Government to promote science and innovation?**

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES**

**(SHRI.Y. S. CHOWDARY)**

**òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó +ÉÉè® ÑðöÆãðó òãðìððÐð ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó**

**(gÉÉÒ ´ÉÉ<Ç. AºÉ. SÉÉèvÉ®ÉÒ)**

**(a) & (b): No Madam. There is no proposal under consideration of the Department of Science and Technology to renew its bilateral agreement with South Africa for science and innovation. However, the existing agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of South Africa signed in 1995 and renewed in 2007 is still operational. In pursuance of the agreement, a Joint Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (JC) has been established to review and steer S&T cooperation between the two countries. The JC has met 10 times so far, with last meeting held on June 18, 2015, in Pretoria, South Africa, under this framework.**

**(c)		The specific areas of cooperation identified by the JC during its last meeting include Agriculture Biotechnology, Astronomy, Health Sciences, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Grass roots Innovation.**

**(d) & (e):  Details of R & D projects approved for joint implementation during each of the last three years is as given in Annex - 1. For the current year (2015-16), a joint call for inviting joint R&D projects in thematic area “Astronomy” has been opened with July 31, 2015 as last date. Besides implementing joint projects, scientific meetings and workshops are organised time to time in accordance with recommendation of the Joint Committee.**

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**- 2 -**

**Annex - 1**

**Year-wise details of R&D projects approved for joint implementation during each of the last three years.**

2011-12

| **Sl.**  **No.**   | **Title of the Project**                                                                                                     | **Indian coordinator**                                                                                                                     | **South African Coordinator**                                                                                | **Duration**   |
|--------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|
| **(1)**            | **(2)**                                                                                                                      | **(3)**                                                                                                                                    | **(4)**                                                                                                      | **(5)**        |
| **1.**             | **Chloroplast Genome sequen-cing of Biodiesel Producing Microalgae Strains from Extreme Climates in India and South Africa** | **Dr. S. Elumalai,**  **Plant Biotechnology Dept.**  **Presidency College,**  **Madras University**                                        | **Prof. Faizal Bux**  **Durban University of Technology**                                                    | **3 years**    |
| **2**              | **Nanomedicine as a biomedical intervention against Acute Cardiac Syndrome and associated statistical models**               | **Dr. Bhaswati Ganguli**  **Department of Statistics,**  **University of Calcutta**  **Kolkata**                                           | **Dr. Sonali Das**  **Senior Researcher**  **LQM, Built Environment**  **CSIR, Pretoria**                    | **3 years**    |
| **3**              | **Development of Functionally Graded Metallic Components by Laser Materials Processing for Bio-implant Application**         | **Dr. J. Dutta Majumdar**  **Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering**  **Indian Institute of Technology  Kharagpur-721302** | **Dr Sisa Pityana**  **Associate professor**  **CSIR-National Laser Centre**  **Pretoria**  **South Africa** | **3 years**    |
| **4**              | **Development of new nuclear medicine diagnostic agents for imaging infection – with focus on  tuberculosis**                | **Dr. Anupam Mondal**  **Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences Brig. Sk. Mazumdar Road, Timarpur, Delhi**                    | **Dr. Neil Jarvis**  **South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa)**                                    | **3 years**    |
| **5**              | **Synthesis and antimalarial activity of bioactive heterocyclic compounds**                                                  | **Kanchugarakoppal S. Rangappa**  **University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore – 570 006, India**                                        | **Jaco Breytenbach Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry  North-West University**                           | **3 years**    |
| **6**              | **Optimization of thermal and shock wave damage during selective tissue cell removal using laser pulse shaping**             | **Sarit Kumar Das,**  **Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai,  Tamilnadu – 600036, India**                                       | **Franz-Josef Kahlen**  **University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa**                                 | **3 years**    |

Contd..3/-

**- 3 -**

| **(1)**   | **(2)**                                                                                                                                                    | **(3)**                                                                                                                                                   | **(4)**                                                                                                                                                | **(5)**     |
|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|
| **7.**    | **Conservation of Indigenous Knowledge on Traditional Medicine. Preventive and Therapeutic Nutrition Practiced in India and South Africa**                 | **Prof.Kasturi Sen Ray, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, V.N. Purav Marg, deonar**  **Mumbai - 400088**                                                 | **Myra Taylor, Adjunct University of KwaZulu - Netal Public Health Medicine,**                                                                         | **3 years** |
| **8**     | **Application of nano composites in space Science**                                                                                                        | **Dr. R. Velmurugan**  **Prof.**  **Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai -600036, India**                                                       | **Dr. Krishnan Kanny**  **Prof.**  **Durban University of Technology, Durban-4000, South Africa**                                                      | **3 years** |
| **9**     | **Linear and nonlinear studies of fluctuation phenomena in space and                    astrophysical plasmas**                                            | **Dr. Satyavir Singh**  **Associate prof.**  **Indian Institute of Geomagnetism**  **Plot No. 5, Sector-18**  **New Panvel (W),**  **Navi Mumbai-410218** | **Prof. R Bharuthram**  **University of the Western Cape, Modderdam Road,**  **Belville 7530**  **South Africa**                                       | **3 years** |
| **10.**   | **Finite element model updating of aerostructure using density based fish School Search**                                                                  | **Snehashish Chakrverty, Prof. National Institute of Technolgy, Rourkela**                                                                                | **Tshilidzi Marwala**  **Prof**  **University of Johanesburg**  **South Africa**                                                                       | **3 years** |
| **11**    | **Multi-wavelength astronomy with the Virtual Observatory**                                                                                                | **Ajit Kembhavi, Prof. Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune.**                                                                    | **Patricia Whitelock, Prof, South African Astronomical Observatory, South Africa.**                                                                    | **3 years** |
| **12**    | **Development of rare-earth ions-metallic nanoparticles hybrid phosphors with Hydro-philic polymer: An application of photocatalysis for water treatment** | **Avinash Chandra Pandey**  **Application Center**  **University of Allahabad**                                                                           | **Ajay Kumar Mishra**  **UJ Nanomaterials Science Research Group, Department of Chemical Technology, University of Johannesburg, (DFC), South Africa** | **3 years** |

Contd..4/-

**- 4 -**

| **(1)**   | **(2)**                                                                                                                                       | **(3)**                                                                                                           | **(4)**                                                                                                 | **(5)**     |
|-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|
| **13**    | **Green chemistry approaches to the synthesis and functionalization of GaN for use in gas and bio-sensors.**                                  | **Sandip Kumar Dhara**  **Surface and Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, TN-603102, India**     | **Neil John Coville**  **Univ of the  Witwatersrand, 1 Jan Smuts Avenue, Johannesburg 2050 SA**         | **3 years** |
| **14**    | **Production of Synthesis Gas and its Clean Processing by a Multi-Stage Wet Scrubber**                                                        | **Prof. B. C. Meikap**  **Department. of Chemical Engineering**  **IIT, Kharagpur-721 302**                       | **Prof. Milan Carsky**  **Professor and Head of School of Chemical Engineering**                        | **3 years** |
| **15.**   | **Greenj Oxidation Catalysts Based on Gold and Silver Organometallics and Nanoparticles Designed with N-Heterocyclic Carbenes.**              | **Chandra Sekhar VASAM, Asstt. Prof. Deptt. of Chemistrhy, University College Satavahana University, Karimnagr.** | **Sreekanth B. JONNALAGADDA School of Chemistry, University of KwaZulu-Netal Westville Campus, Durban** | **3 years** |
| **16**    | **Indo-South Africa HIV Vaccine Research Collaboration Defining the HIV Antigens required for inclusion in a safe and effective HIV vaccine** | **Prof. V. Chauhan, Director, ICGEB New Delhi**                                                                   | **Blessed Okele, SA**                                                                                   | **3 years** |
| **17**    | **Mycolic acid Antibody Real-Time Inhibition (MARTI) Serodiagnosis of TB**                                                                    | **Prof D Behera, LRS Institute of Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases, New Delhi**                            | **Prof. JA Verschoor**  **University of Pretoria, Pretoria**                                            | **3 years** |
| **18**    | **Novel HIV-1 Integrase Inhibitors Discovery Programme**                                                                                      | **Dr Vibha Tandon, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.**                                  | **Dr Alexio Capovilla, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.**                   | **3 years** |

**2012-13** **NIL**

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**- 5 -**

2013-14

| **(1)**   | **(2)**                                                                                                                                                 | **(3)**                                                                                                    | **(4)**                                                                 | **(5)**      |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|
| **S. No** | **Title**                                                                                                                                               | **Indian Coordinator**                                                                                     | **South African Coordinator**                                           | **Duration** |
|           | **Elucidating the structural basis and biochemical mechanism of allosteric regulation in cofactor biosynthetic enzymes**                                | **Prof. Ruchi Anand**  **Indian Institute of Technology Powai, Mumbai,**                                   | **Prof. Erick Strauss Stellenbosch University, South Africa**           | **3 years**  |
|           | **Targeting autophagy for brain cancer drug discovery**                                                                                                 | **Dr. Shivananju NanjundaSwamy,**  **Sri Jayachamarajendra College of                Engineering, Mysore** | **Dr. Ben Loos, Stellenbosch University,South Africa**                  | **3 years**  |
|           | **Optimizing engineered hydrogels for stem cell delivery and differentiation in the heart**                                                             | **Prof. Murugan Ramalingam,**  **Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore**                         | **Dr. Neil Davies, University of Cape Town**                            | **3 years**  |
|           | **Modification, Characterization and application of naturally occurring biomaterials for the removal of toxic contaminants from industrial wastewater** | **Dr. Vinod Kumar Gupta, Dr. Ram ManoharLohiaAwadh University Faizabad**                                   | **Dr. ArjunMaity, CRIR, Materials Science and Manufacturing, Pretoria** | **3 years**  |
|           | **Role of TGFß in metastasis and biology of breast cancer stem cells (CSC)**                                                                            | **Dr. Arindam Bhattacharya, Ballygunge Science College, University of Calcutta**                           | **Dr. Adrienne L Edkins, Rhodes University**                            | **3 years**  |
|           | **Multi-Wavelength Studies of Accretion Phenomena with ASTROSAT and SALT**                                                                              | **Prof. K.P Singh, Tata Institute for Fundamental Research, Mumbai**                                       | **Prof. A. H. Buckley, South African Astronomical observatory, SA**     | **3 years**  |
|           | **Observations and analysis of stars in the Kepler field**                                                                                              | **Dr. Yogesh Chandra Joshi, ARIES, Manora Peak, Nainital**                                                 | **Dr. Chris Engelbrechet, University of Johannesburg, SA**              | **3 years**  |

Contd..6/-

**- 6 -**

| **(1)**   | **(2)**                                                                                                                                                                   | **(3)**                                                                 | **(4)**                                                                              | **(5)**     |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|
|           | **Pharmacological evaluation of medicinal plants from India and South Africa based on**  **Indigenous Knowledge for anticancer and antituberculosis potential**           | **Dr.S.P.Dhanabal, JSS College of Pharmacy,Ooty**                       | **Dr.NamritaLall, University of Pretoria**                                           | **3 years** |
|           | **Effect of trace elements on yield and quality parameters of tea (Camellia sinensis L. And Athrixiaphylicoides DC.) as influenced by inorganic and  organic amendments** | **Dr.Tanmoy Karak, Tea Research Association, Dibrugarh, Assam**         | **Prof. F. R Kutu, University of Limpopo**                                           | **3 years** |
|           | **Developing environmental friendly packaging materials with essential oils to control the       postharvest diseases in mango**                                          | **Dr. S. PeriyarSelvam, SRM University, Tamilnadu**                     | **Prof. E. RotimiSadiku, Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering**         | **3 years** |
|           | **CO2 Conversion to Synthetic Fuel Via Fischer-Tropsch Process**                                                                                                          | **Dr. Sreedevi Upadhyayula, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, IIT, Delhi** | **Dr. KalalaJalama,**  **Dept. of Chemical engineering, University of Johannesburg** | **3 years** |
|           | **New Perspectives to Advance Green Medicinal Chemistry**                                                                                                                 | **Dr. Raj Kumar Joshi, Dept. of Chemistry, MNIT Jaipur**                | **Dr. Grogory Smith, University of Cape Town**                                       | **3 years** |

**2014-15** **NIL**

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