NEWS RELEASES

November 18, 2005 (11:05 a.m. EST)
No. 223 

CANADA-INDIA JOINT STATEMENT ON FUTURE PLANS FOR S&T COOPERATION

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.

- 30 -

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.