Profile & Fact Sheet MEDIA POLITICAL STRUCTURE Science & Technology

India - Japan Science & Technology Relations:
Surging ahead...

Theme: Cooperation in Science & Technology including frontier areas of R&D constitutes a key element of the strategic partnership between the two countries

Main Activities of the S&T Wing:

The functions of S&T wing of the Indian Embassy at Tokyo are:

• Monitoring the developments in S&T through publications, discussions and visits in Japan
• Facilitating exchange of S&T information and documentation
• Assessment and evaluation of S&T strengths in Japan
• Implementation and promotion of bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation in S&T through specific programs of cooperation
• Promotion of interaction and building partnership of Indian scientific agencies and R&D personnel with their counterparts in Japan on themes of mutual interest and benefit
• Formulation and signing of bilateral S&T agreements and assist in developing Joint R&D projects
• Establishment of joint R&D centers
• Provide necessary input for organizing Joint Workshops/ symposia/ seminars
• Coordinating Exploratory visits and Project related Exchange visits of Scientists from both sides.
• Providing access to Major Research and Infrastructural facilities
• Coordinating fellowships/Short duration training programs
• Organising others forms of cooperation as agreed mutually.

Science and Technology in India

Science & Technology (S&T) has always been an integral part of the Indian culture. The contributions made by the scholar-scientists Aryabhatta, Bhaskara, Brahmagupta, Dhanvantari and Nagarjuna, to name a few, to the fields of mathematics, astronomy, medicine and chemistry during the prehistoric period are legendary and invaluable not only to Indian S&T but also to the knowledge base of the humanity at large. The dawn of the present century witnessed great strides made by Indian scientists like Srinivasa Ramanujan, J.C. Bose, P.C. Ray, Meghnad Saha, C.V. Raman, S.N. Bose, Birbal Sahni, P.C. Mahalanobis and M. Visvesvaraya, who have left indelible imprints on the world S&T scene.

The innate ability to perform creatively in science came to be backed with an institutional set-up and strong state support after country's independence in 1947. Since then, the Government of India has spared no effort to establish a modern S&T organisation in the country. This conviction was reflected in the Scientific Policy Resolution (SPR) of 1958, the aim of which was "to foster, promote and sustain the cultivation of sciences and scientific research in the country and to secure for the people all the benefits that can accrue from the acquisition and application of scientific knowledge".

With this in view, several departments were set up by the government with specific objectives which at once met the immediate social needs even as they allowed the country to leap-frog into the modern high-tech world. The departments of Atomic Energy, Science and Technology, and Space were thus among the first S&T departments in the country with the Prime Minister himself taking the reins. Industrialisation of the country, according to the founding fathers of modern India, was essential for improving the quality of life. Consequently, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research expanded with the establishment of various institutions dedicated to the development of specific industries.

So wide is the S&T infrastructure in India today that it encompasses S&T organisations under the Central Government, State Government as well as public and private sectors working in areas as diverse as agriculture and healthcare on the one hand and nuclear and space research on the other.

The S&T departments functioning under the auspices of Central Government are: Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Department of Space (DoS), Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Department of Ocean Development (DOD).

Among the S&T organisation associated with other Central Government Ministries, Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Ministry of Defence, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare have large R&D infrastructure.

There are about 200 national laboratories and an equal number of R&D institutes in the Central Sector and about 1300 R&D units in the industrial sector. The number of persons employed in the R&D establishments is estimated to be around 300,000.

In addition to R&D establishments, the other major body pursuing S&T activities in India is the country's vast university system. Comprising 162 universities, 32 institutions deemed to be universities and 10 institutes of national importance; it is a major source of S&T manpower development, producing around 200,000 S&T personnel every year. The total stock of the S&T manpower in the country is estimated to be around 4.0 million.

The commitment of Indian Government to promote socio-economic growth of the country through the use of S&T has shown remarkable success in a short span of five decades.

Science and Technology Policy of India

Recognizing the changing context of the scientific enterprise, and to meet present national needs in the new era of globalisation, Government enunciates the following objectives of its Science and Technology Policy 2003:

Main objectives of Policy are:

• To ensure that the science and technology is fully integrated with all spheres of national activity.
• To ensure food, agricultural, nutritional, environmental, water, health and energy security of the people on a sustainable basis.
• To vigorously foster scientific research in universities and other academic, scientific and engineering institutions; and attract the brightest young persons to careers in science and technology.
• To mount a direct and sustained effort on the alleviation of poverty, enhancing livelihood security, removal of hunger and malnutrition, reduction of drudgery and regional imbalances, both rural and urban, and generation of employment, by using scientific and technological capabilities along with our traditional knowledge pool.
• To promote the empowerment of women in all science and technology activities and ensure their full and equal participation.
• To provide necessary autonomy and freedom of functioning for all academic and R&D institutions.
• To establish an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) regime that maximizes the incentives for the generation and protection of intellectual property by all types of inventors.
• To promote international science and technology cooperation towards achieving the goals of national development and security, and make it a key element of our international relations.
• To accomplish national strategic and security-related objectives, by using the latest advances in science and technology
• To encourage research and application for forecasting, prevention and mitigation of natural hazards, particularly, floods, cyclones, earthquakes, drought and landslides

India-Japan Science and Technology Cooperation

Historical background:

Historically, India and Japan have deep rooted links through the oriental culture and religion, which had their origin in India. However, the two countries have grown through different paths of development for most part of last few centuries.

In 1939, the Second World War engulfed the whole world. At the end of WWII, Japan was essentially a ruined nation but the people had strong determination and will to stand again. Around the same time, India got freedom from the British rulers, and the process of development started under the enlightened vision of national leaders. Both Japan and India adopted the glook Westh policy for faster development. While Japan became a close ally of USA and adopted capital oriented economy, India chose a socialist approach with an emphasis on self-reliance. Although it resulted in slower pace of development, it helped us establish a broad base in science and technology. On the other hand, Japan progressed on the path of market economy with full support from USA, and soon became an economic super power.

During the Cold War Era, the Indo-Japan Cooperation was limited to export of raw materials and minerals from India and non-strategic equipments and machinery from Japan. However, even in this period, there were examples of very good S&T collaboration between Japanese and Indian scientists, primarily because of the personal contacts and individual initiatives.

The end of cold war, disintegration of USSR and subsequent developments removed Japanese inhibitions that used to limit their cooperation with India in the field of S&T. The two countries realized and emphasized upon the need for cooperation among Asian Nations for their rapid development. Owing to its strong economy, Japan was able to play an important role by inviting our S&T personnel and making investments in technological sectors to utilize Asian Markets for mutual benefits.

A formal S&T Agreement between the two countries was signed in November 1985. It is being implemented through India-Japan Joint Committee (IJJC) on Cooperation in S&T which looks into major policy issues, reviews the progress and proposes measures for enhancing the cooperation.

In 1995, the Diet (Parliament) of Japan passed S&T Basic Law and the prevalent emphasis started shifting from technology-oriented development towards basic scientific research. Japan has decided to come out of the economic recession through the development of new industries, resulting from the advanced research and development through the use of new science and technology. However, India applied research is being offered more encouragement over the conventional academic research. It is considered for fast economic growth and the societal adoption of technology.

The nuclear tests conducted by India in May 1998 and the subsequent missile tests had resulted in severe limitation of fresh scientific cooperation. Japan took longer than other countries to come out of this reduced cooperation. However, at the end of year 2000, India-Japan Science Council identified a new area of cooperation and raised the total number of such areas to six. It got quickly implemented and a well-attended bilateral seminar took place in Tokyo. Around the same time, grant of visa to scientists from BARC intending to come to Japan got restricted. Through the new embargo, essentially to check the Weapons of Mass Destruction, Japan restricted trade with several companies and supply of technical machines and materials to some research institutions. This move, in addition to affecting the approved as well as ongoing program, disappointed the Japanese academicians and business alike.

This has started changing now. Recent years have witnessed Japan, both at the Government as well as at the business and academic levels, displaying an increasing interest in India. A number of initiatives have been taken by the two governments to improve bilateral relations in almost every field. With a view to provide more focus and purpose to S&T cooperation between the two countries, a Science and Technology Initiative to support pure science research in frontier areas of S&T has been proposed.

In April 2005, PM Koizumifs visit to Delhi resulted in the enunciation of an eight point action plan to impart a strategic orientation to India-Japan Global Partnership envisioned first by ex PMs Mori and Vajpayee in 2000. In the action plan, it was agreed that the new Science and Technology Initiative would explore the possibility of substantial cooperation in the emerging areas of modern biology, biotechnology, health and care, agriculture, hydrocarbon fuels, nano-science and nano-technology, environment, information and communication technology, robotics, alternative sources of energy etc.

This commitment was further cemented in the visit of Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India to Japan from 14-16 December, 2006, when the two Prime Ministers issued a joint statement, upgrading the relationship to a Japan India Strategic and Global Partnership.

PM Abefs recent visit to India from August 21-23, 2007 resulted in a Joint Statement that set out a roadmap for India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership.

India has a large pool of scientific manpower and excellent scientists who can collaborate with their Japanese counterparts for the advancement of science whereas the Japanese technology can accelerate the technological development of India. This could lead to possibilities of complementing each othersf S&T efforts. It was realized that cooperation in S&T would be a pre-requisite for long-term successful industrial and economic cooperation between India and Japan. Regular avenues through agreements and MoUs had already been giving a formal shape to the ongoing collaboration between Japanese and Indian scientists. New modes of exchange and areas of cooperation have started getting identified.

Following section describes current status of bilateral cooperation in the field of Science and Technology between India and Japan.

Bilateral Cooperation

In order to enhance and diversify our cooperation in the Priority Strategic Areas, we have been operating through a multi-pronged approach. These may be grouped as:

I. Bilateral Cooperative Science Programme:

The S&T Agreement between the two countries was signed in November 1985.

• It is implemented through India-Japan Joint Committee (IJJC) on Cooperation in S&T which looks into major policy issues, reviews the progress and proposes measures for enhancing the cooperation.
• From Indian side it is coordinated by Department of Science and Technology (DST) with members from CSIR, ICMR, DBT and other scientific departments of India. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) coordinates on behalf of the Government of Japan, with members from Education, Science, Health, Industry and other relevant Ministries.
• Under this Committee, the mode of cooperation includes joint projects, joint workshops/seminars, joint utilization of major research facilities and science and technology agency fellowships.
• Other cooperation arrangements like those with different agencies and institutions are also monitored by the Joint Committee

In order to develop enhanced and diversified cooperation in different areas, another major program is:

II. India-Japan Cooperative Science Programme

(Under the aegis of India Japan Science Council (IJSC)).

• For IJSC, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) is the counterpart agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
• India Japan Science Council is working for last 13 years and has so far been a very effective vehicle of S&T cooperation between the two countries.
• It has further promoted and strengthened closer ties between Indian and Japanese scientific communities through joint programmes such as research projects, seminars, visits of scientists, RONPAKU Fellowships and Asia Academic Seminars. Priority areas under this programme are the following :
  • Molecular Structure, Dynamics and Molecular Materials, including Supramolecular Science.
  • Advanced Materials, including Polymers and Nano-materials
  • Modern Biology and Biotechnology
  • Manufacturing Sciences
  • Astronomy & Astrophysics
  • Surface and Interface Sciences

India-Japan Science Council Meetings

So far eleven meetings have been held. The recent meetings, held during my tenure are detailed as follows:

• India-Japan Science Council Meeting, 2005
  The Eighth Meeting was held in Tokyo on 28 January, 2005.
• India-Japan Science Council Meeting, 2006
  The Ninth Meeting was held in Bangalore on 10-11 March 2006.
• India-Japan Science Council Meeting, 2007
  The Tenth Meeting was held in Tokyo on 5-6 March, 2007.
• India-Japan Science Council Meeting, 2008
  The Eleventh Meeting was held in Delhi on 28-29 January, 2008.

III. New Science and Technology Initiative:

i.) IJJC Meeting to launch New Initiative

The meeting of India-Japan Joint Committee on Science and Technology (IJJC), was revived after a gap of 6 years and the 7^th Meeting was held in India in December 2005. The Committee agreed to workout the new initiative.

ii) The First meeting of India-Japan Science and Technology Initiative was held in Tokyo, Japan on 16-17 October, 2006. In three fields namely, nano-technology, life science and ICT, 12 areas were identified.

iii) This was followed by Consultations between Ministers in charge of Science and Technology of the two countries from 18 to 20 October, 2006.

The launching of the following joint projects under the Science and Technology Initiative was approved:

• Joint R&D Programme in areas such as nano-technology, life science and information and communication technology(ICT);
• Development of Open Access Database of the available ongoing and prospective research undertaken individually and through joint collaboration in their respective academic, public and industrial institutions; and
• Collaboration in the scientific areas of deep sea drilling.

Following MOUs were signed -

• MOU on cooperation in science and technology between the Department of Science & Technology (DST) of India and RIKEN to collaborate in the areas (i) Detection tools for security(ii)genome related research and (iii) computational science. [Signed on 8th December 2006]
• MOU on scientific cooperation programme between DST and Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) for funding new joint research projects related to nano-technology, information and communication technology etc. [Signed on 8th December 2006]
• MOU between National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) of Japan and Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of India. [Signed on 12 February 2007]
• MOU between National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) of Japan and Council od Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of India. [Signed on 12 February 2007]
• Letter of Intent, a part of MOU, between High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) and Department of Science and Technology (DST) for construction of beam line for research in high energy Physics at KEK for Indian Scientific community [ signed on 24 July 2007]

[AIST had earlier, in the year 2005, signed an MOU with Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in advanced industrial science and technology fields, including nano-technology and materials, energy and environment (clean coal and biomass resources), life sciences and information and communication technology.]

MOUfs under Process:

• Between AIST and DST
• Between NISTEP and NISTADS
• Between KEK and DST

MOU on research collaboration related to policy matters is under active consideration between National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP) of Japan and National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS) of India.

Open Access Data Base (OADB) initiative

Open Access Data Base (OADB) initiative was first proposed at the informal Ministerial meeting on Science & Technology in Kuantan, Malaysia and an MoU was also signed between India and Japan regarding Bilateral Co-operation for the same.

Under this initiative, A workshop on eOpen Access Data Basesf was organized in Japan on 26 February 2007 by the office of S & T Policy, Cabinet Secretariat, Japan. Prof. K. Ramarithum, Dean (R&D) and Professor Computer Science & Engineering, IIT Mumbai attended the workshop. It is expected that some joint proposals would be received under the ICT programme with JST.

Second International Expert Meeting on OADB took place on 10-11 March,2008 at Tokyo.

Institutional Cooperation

JST-DST

Under MOU concluded between DST & JST on 8 December 2006, JST & DST have started a new programme for joint funding of Indian-Japanese Joint Research Projects in mutually agreed fields to achieve world class scientific results, leading towards new innovative technologies

Eight joint projects were mutually finalized by JST and DST in February 2008 for joint funding in the fiscal 2008 for three years. Next round of discussions are being held for deciding area of cooperation for the next call of proposals (2008).

AIST-DBT

First Indo-Japan Workshop in the area of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology and an International AIST Symposium on Understanding and Manipulating Stress, Aging and Cancer were held at National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology(AIST), Tsukuba, during January 21-23, 2008. It was jointly organized by AIST International Affairs Department, AIST Research Institute for Cell Engineering and Department of Biotechnology(DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India.

The Workshop was a follow up of a comprehensive MoU signed between DBT and AIST on February 12, 2007 to work jointly in the field of biotechnology and aimed to finalize cooperation issues for joint R&D Projects and fellowship schemes to initiate bilateral cooperation.

During the Workshop, both sides intensively discussed and finalized various plans and policies leading to bilateral cooperation in the following specific R&D areas related to Bioinformatics and Computational Biology:-

• Development of Bio-complex (Protein Interaction), Data Base
• Development of Functional Database for membrane protein (Folding and Stability)
• Glycobiology
• Cell Engineering and Biomedical Science

AIST-CSIR

A workshop on collaboration between National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was held on 12 February 2007 at CSIR Science Centre, New Delhi, for mutual cooperation in the areas of coal, biomass, organic chemical process and life sciences. This was a follow up of the MOU between AIST of Japan and CSIR of India.

AIST-JNCASR

A joint symposium on Nano & Soft Matters was organized by AIST and JNCASR at JNCASR, Bangalore on 8-9 February 2007.

RIKEN-IISC

For identification of joint projects in the genome related research, IISC-RIKEN Conference on Genomics and Bioinformatics was held at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore on 15-16 March 2007.

IV. Cooperation in Space Science

MOU was signed for the first time between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in October, 2005 to cooperate in the field of space science including lunar missions and X-ray astronomy, satellite remote sensing, satellite communication, and disaster management support.

Progress:

• An agreement for cooperation in space based X-ray astronomy is likely to be inked between ISRO & JAXA during this year. This agreement envisions joint calibration on X-ray instruments, coordinated observations between Japanese Suzaku and Indian Astrosat and joint development of X-ray astronomy instruments for future missions.
• Scientists level interactions are in progress on lunar missions, which are expected to gain momentum after the launch of Japanese Selene on 16 August 2007 and the launch of Indian Chandrayan-I in first quarter of 2008.
• ISRO co-hosted the 14th Session of Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) from 21-23 November 2007 in Bangalore along with MEXT and JAXA of Japan. This forum aims at promoting cooperation in space activities in AP region.
• India has joined the Japan led Sentinel Asia project under the aegis of APRSAF as Data providing Node, Capacity building Node and User Node for empowering the countries of AP region to manage disasters through space based information.
• JAXA has supported the ISROfs initiative to seek Japanfs support to the ISRO funded and managed UN-CCSTEAP located at Dehradun, through signing of Host Country Agreement.
• A 12-member delegation from Department of Space/ISRO visited Tsukuba from 8-14 July 2007 to attend ISRO-JAXA Multilateral Young Professional Exchange Program (MYPEP) programme organized by JAXA.

V. Cooperation in Nuclear Science

MOU on Core University Programme was signed between Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) in March, 2006.

Under Core University Program, JSPS and DST shall select fields to be promoted under the Core University Programme and designate Core Universities or Research Institutes in their respective countries. High Energy Accelerator Research Organisation (KEK) from Japan and Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT) from India will be the Core Universities

VI. Cooperation on Tsunami

A Joint Workshop on Tsunami as decided in the IJSC meeting of January, 2005 was also organized at National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) during 18-19 March, 2005 in Hyderabad. The follow up seminar on Tsunami was organized in Japan at Port and Airport Research Institute (PARI), Sendai from August 6 to 9, 2006. A senior scientist from NGRI took part in the proceedings.

Joint Projects are being coordinated between DST and JSPS as reported in the India Japan Science council meeting in March 2007.

VII. Seminars/Workshops

Following Joint Seminars / Workshops on Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Manufacturing Science and Engineering Environmental Materials were held in Japan:

• National Institute for Material Science (NIMS), Tsukuba organized a joint workshop with National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI, CSIR) at Tsukuba on 21-22 November, 2005.
• Indo-Japan Workshop on gEmerging Frontiers of Molecular Spectroscopyh held at Kobe University, Nara from 25-26 September, 2006 under the aegis of India-Japan Cooperative Science Programme (IJCSP).
• India-Japan joint seminar on Modern Biology and Biotechnology held at Hosei University from 18 December, 2006 to 23 February, 2007 under the aegis of India-Japan Cooperative Science Programme (IJCSP).
• Indo-Japan Workshop on eElectronic structure of novel magnetic materialsh held at the University of Tokyo from 27 February to 1 March, 2007 under the aegis of India-Japan Cooperative Science Programme (IJCSP).
• Indo-Japan Workshop on Manufacturing Sciences held at University of Tokyo from 18-22 February, 2007 under the aegis of India-Japan Cooperative Science Programme (IJCSP).
• An Asian Academic Seminar cum Training School on Nano/molecular materials was organized in Pune in last week of February 2007 with the support of JSPS. About 50 young scientists and 30 senior scientists/experts would be participating in this activity.
• The Executive Director, JSPS visited India from 20-25 February 2007 for discussions on collaborative activities under the eCore University Programmef.
• workshop on collaboration between AIST and DBT was also held on 12 February 2007 at DBT, New Delhi, for cooperation in the areas of Life Sciences and Biotechnology.
• workshop on collaboration between AIST and CSIR was held on 12 February 2007 at CSIR Science Centre, New Delhi, for mutual cooperation in the areas of coal, biomass, organic chemical process and life sciences.
• joint symposium on Nano & Soft Matters was organized by AIST and JNCASR at JNCASR, Bangalore on 8-9 February 2007.
• For identification of joint projects in the genome related research, IISC-RIKEN Conference on Genomics and Bioinformatics was held at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore on 15-16 March 2007.

VIII. Other Collaboratios

New IIT in collaboration with Japan

Based on the joint statement issued during the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister to India on 22 August, 2007 a Joint Working Group was constituted by the governments of India and Japan to explore the possible collaboration for the establishment of the new IIT. The first meeting of the Working Group was held on 7 February, 2008 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Tokyo.

Indo-Japanese Collaboration For IIITDM, Jabalpur

A Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) for the development of Pandit Dwarka Prasad Mishra (PDPM) Indian Institute of information Technology, Design & Manufacturing (IIITDM) Jabalpur was signed between the Governments of India and Japan on December 15, 2006.

MOFA has formed a consortium of Japanese universities/ institutes/
industries that will assist the IIITDM-J to develop those areas in which Japan has considerable skills and expertise. University of Tokyo agreed to be the core organization of the consortium.

Future Prospects

• The ever increase in the visits at government, institutional and individual levels in almost all the fields of Science & Technology is highly encouraging.
• Considering the eagerness and commitments being shown by the two sides and progress made, the prospects of India-Japan Science Cooperation seem to be decidedly promising and is bound to reach new heights in coming times.

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