More funding needed for Indo-Russian scientific projects - officials

Lack of funding was preventing the development of bilateral large-scale scientific projects, Indian and Russian officials said at a roundtable in Moscow on March 27. Russia and India, however, have the potential for fruitful cooperation in creating medicines and vaccines, the development of information technologies and methods of cyber security and renewable energy, the officials in the field of science technology said at the roundtable held at the Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

An Indian delegation of scientists held wide-ranging discussions with their Russian counterparts, the Zelinsky Institute said in a press note.

The Indian delegation was headed by Deputy National Security Advisor Dr. Arvind Gupta, who is currently in Russia on an official visit.

Participants of the roundtable. Source: Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry

Scientists of the two countries underlined the significant strengthening of bilateral scientific ties in recent years, highlighting new priorities in the field of biomedical research and the field of glycoscience.

Gupta noted the critical importance of science for the development of society as a whole and for all areas of work of the Indian government, including the economic, social and cultural-educational domains, politics and geopolitics and national security.

The results of basic science need to be brought to practical application, Gupta said.

The event was dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Russia.

Dr. Arvind Gupta and Professor Eduard Nifantyev. Source: Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry

Meaningful scientific cooperation between the two countries began in 1972, when the Soviet and Indian governments signed an agreement on cooperation in science and technology. In 1987, the two countries signed an agreement to launch a comprehensive long-term program for scientific and technical cooperation and established the Indo-Russian working group for this purpose.

Currently 64 Indians cities have scientific ties with 31 cities in Russia. About 120 scientific-research organisations in India cooperate in different areas with over 140 Russian scientific institutions.