Some of the recent media out of India - Part 1 of 2For additional information on the extensive work being done in India’s S&T sector, view some of the recent media out of India…View Part 2
Fillip to Indo-Canadian bilateral ties ( June 17, 2008 ) IBEF: To further improve bilateral trade ties, India and Canada have set off ten joint initiatives worth US$ 17 million in the field of science and technology, chiefly to make new discoveries in the area of developing next-generation research. In a joint statement, the Indian Minister of Science and Technology, Kapil Sibal, and Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade David Emerson said, "Our governments understand the need for establishing international research partners and the critical role played by Science and Technology in the new economy. These joint projects will enhance the collaboration between our scientists and commercialise their discoveries". "The initiative will strengthen bilateral cooperation, help the industry and will go a long way in uplifting the face of rural India," Mr. Sibal added. According to Mr. Sibal, eight of the ten joint initiatives are in the areas of environment, food processing, agriculture, health IT, energy, aeronautics and watershed management. The remaining two concern partnership-development activities — in context of which, the University of Toronto in collaboration with Tata Institute of Fundamental Research will take up projects of mutual benefits. He further underscored the point that the bilateral partnership was intended to discover creative ways of developing next-generation research cooperation between Canada and India, particularly in the crucial areas of bio-fuels, with the aim of preventing infringement on agri-foods and nanotechnology applications. The Canada-India Foundation (CIF) will promote the partnership-development activities, with the spotlight on developing low-cost technology to help rural people. Manmohan Singh gave India its second freedom: Sibal (15 June 2008 ) Indo-Asian News Service India's Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal has called upon the expatriate community in Canada to help uplift 700 million Indians from their "uneven" world into "the flat world of the 400-million-strong Indian middle class". Speaking as chief guest at the 31st Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce annual dinner gala here Saturday night, Sibal pointed out that India got its political freedom in 1947. But it was Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who gave India its second freedom when he, as finance minister, ushered in economic liberalisation in 1991, said Sibal, who is here with a trade delegation for bilateral talks. Thanks to Singh's liberalisation, India was now a trillion-dollar economy, with its forex reserves crossing the $315-billion mark, Sibal said. India was now growing at a rate of about 9 percent, creating a middle class which outnumbered the combined population of the US and Canada, he said amid applause from the 1,000-strong gathering. Calling the Indian middle class "the six-lane highway", Sibal said: "That is India's great story". However, he said: "There is another story lurking behind this highway - the uneven road of 700-million Indians who ride bicycles". The challenge now, he added, was to concentrate on "this uneven road so that the world is flat" also for the remaining 700 million Indians. And the successful Indian community in Canada can help in the betterment of underprivileged Indians, he said. Monte Solberg, Canadian minister for human resource and social development, said India was poised to become a technological and economic super power. India was a vibrant democracy which shared a common history and values with Canada. For these reasons, he said, the emerging economic power was strategically important for his country. The signing of the scientific and technological cooperation agreement in 2006 and the foreign investment protection and promotion agreement in 2007 showed the importance Canada attached to India, he said. Solberg said India-Canada trade ties will get a further boost with Prime Minister Stephen Harper announcing two new trade offices in Hyderabad and Mumbai. The minister said India-Canada relations are "firing on all cylinders" and the 900,000-strong Indian community was contributing immensely to strengthening these ties. Ten Indo-Canadians and Canadians were also honoured at the gala for their achievements in their respective fields and contribution to promoting India-Canada relations. India, Canada launch science and technology initiatives (June 16, 2008) Agencies India and Canada have launched ten joint initiatives worth USD 17 million in the Science and Technology sector as part of an agreement signed between them in 2005. The announcement was made on Sunday by Minister of Science and Technology Kapil Sibal and Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade David Emerson in a joint statement in Toronto. "Our governments understand the need for establishing international research partners and the critical role played by Science and Technology in the new economy. These joint projects will enhance the collaboration between our scientists and commercialise their discoveries," the statement said. Eight of the joint initiatives are in the field of Agriculture, Environment, Food Processing, Health IT, energy, aeronautics and watershed management, and two are related to partnership-development activities, Sibal said. Under the latter, the University of Toronto in collaboration with Tata Institute of Fundamental Research will undertake projects of mutual benefits. Canada India Foundation (CIF) will actively involve in the partnership-development activities. The focus will be to develop low cost and affordable technology that benefits rural masses, Sibal said. India will be benefited by Canada's excellence in the field of infrastructure, IT, Agriculture, Biotechnology and special technology in gaming activities, he said. The minister met Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; key leaders of Indo-Canadian business and cultural organisations. "The Canadian portion of both projects and partnerships is funded through the International Science and Technology Partnerships Programme and is delivered by International Science and Technology Partnerships Canada (ISTPCanada) - an arm's-length organisation," minister David Emerson said. The joint activities will lead to an increase of commercially viable research and development initiatives, and assist in the organisation of scientific seminars, conferences and workshops, Sibal said. Co-operation between the countries in the sector has made substantial progress since the signing of an overarching agreement in November 2005. Areas of co-operation included biotechnology, health research, medical devices, nanoscience and nanomedicine, sustainable and alternate energy and environment technologies, information and communications technology, and earth sciences and disaster management. In March 2008, aerospace, bio-pharmaceuticals, photonics and synchrotron science were added to the list, Sibal said, adding that efforts are being made to enhance the current trade of USD 3.7 billion by five times in the next five years. Canada, in addition to India, has Science and Technology agreements with five other countries and the European Union. India, Canada launch joint science and technology initiatives (16 June, 2008) The Economic Times India and Canada have launched ten joint initiatives worth USD 17 million in the Science and Technology sector as part of an agreement signed between them in 2005. The announcement was made yesterday by Minister of Science and Technology Kapil Sibal and Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade David Emerson in a joint statement here. "Our governments understand the need for establishing international research partners and the critical role played by Science and Technology in the new economy. These joint projects will enhance the collaboration between our scientists and commercialise their discoveries," the statement said. Eight of the joint initiatives are in the field of Agriculture, Environment, Food Processing, Health IT, energy, aeronautics and watershed management, and two are related to partnership-development activities, Sibal said. Under the latter, the University of Toronto in collaboration with Tata Institute of Fundamental Research will undertake projects of mutual benefits. Canada India Foundation (CIF) will actively involve in the partnership-development activities. The focus will be to develop low cost and affordable technology that benefits rural masses, Sibal said. India will be benefited by Canada's excellence in the field of infrastructure, IT, Agriculture, Biotechnology and special technology in gaming activities, he said. The minister met Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; key leaders of Indo-Canadian business and cultural organisations. India and Canada have launched ten joint initiatives worth USD 17 million in the Science and Technology sector as part of an agreement signed between them in 2005 (June 16) The Financial Express The announcement was made on Sunday by Minister of Science and Technology Kapil Sibal and Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade David Emerson in a joint statement in Toronto. "Our governments understand the need for establishing international research partners and the critical role played by Science and Technology in the new Economy. These joint projects will enhance the collaboration between our scientists and commercialise their discoveries," the statement said. Eight of the joint initiatives are in the field of Agriculture, Environment, Food Processing, Health IT, energy, aeronautics and watershed management, and two are related to partnership-development activities, Sibal said. Under the latter, the University of Toronto in collaboration with Tata Institute of Fundamental Research will undertake projects of mutual benefits. Canada India Foundation (CIF) will actively involve in the partnership-development activities. The focus will be to develop low cost and affordable technology that benefits rural masses, Sibal said. India will be benefited by Canada's excellence in the field of infrastructure, IT, Agriculture, Biotechnology and special technology in gaming activities, he said. The minister met Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; key leaders of Indo-Canadian business and cultural organisations. "The Canadian portion of both projects and partnerships is funded through the International Science and Technology Partnerships Programme and is delivered by International Science and Technology Partnerships Canada (ISTPCanada) – an arm's-length organisation," minister David Emerson said. The joint activities will lead to an increase of commercially viable research and development initiatives, and assist in the organisation of scientific seminars, conferences and workshops, Sibal said. Co-operation between the countries in the sector has made substantial progress since the signing of an overarching agreement in November 2005. Areas of co-operation included biotechnology, health research, medical devices, nanoscience and nanomedicine, sustainable and alternate energy and environment technologies, information and communications technology, and earth sciences and disaster management. In March 2008, aerospace, bio-pharmaceuticals, photonics and synchrotron science were added to the list, Sibal said, adding that efforts are being made to enhance the current trade of USD 3.7 billion by five times in the next five years. Canada, in addition to India, has Science and Technology agreements with five other countries and the European Union. Canada, India launch joint technology, science initiatives (16 June 2008) Agence France Presse Canada and India on Sunday launched ten 17-million-dollar joint initiatives as part of a 2005 scientific and technological cooperation agreement. "These joint projects will enhance the collaboration between our scientists and commercialize their discoveries," said David Emerson, Canada's minister of foreign affairs and international trade. He made the announcement with India's visiting Union Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Kapil Sibal. Eight of the joint initiatives deal with research; two establish partnerships. Total funding for all ten is 17 million dollars. One project will study the use of biomimetic material to integrate and repair the cornea of the eye. Another will create a common modelling and simulation tool to test multiple aircraft and air-related equipment for a new generation of regional aircraft. There is also a joint project to study the use of biofuels in aircraft gas turbine engines made from Canadian and Indian feedstocks. Manmohan Singh gave India its second freedom: Sibal (15th June, 2008 ) Malaysia Sun India's Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal has called upon the expatriate community in Canada to help uplift 700 million Indians from their "uneven" world into "the flat world of the 400-million-strong Indian middle class". Speaking as chief guest at the 31st Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce annual dinner gala here Saturday night, Sibal pointed out that India got its political freedom in 1947. But it was Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who gave India its second freedom when he, as finance minister, ushered in economic liberalisation in 1991, said Sibal, who is here with a trade delegation for bilateral talks. Thanks to Singh's liberalisation, India was now a trillion-dollar economy, with its forex reserves crossing the $315-billion mark, Sibal said. India was now growing at a rate of about 9 percent, creating a middle class which outnumbered the combined population of the US and Canada, he said amid applause from the 1,000-strong gathering. Calling the Indian middle class 'the six-lane highway', Sibal said: 'That is India's great story'. However, he said: 'There is another story lurking behind this highway - the uneven road of 700-million Indians who ride bicycles'. The challenge now, he added, was to concentrate on "this uneven road so that the world is flat" also for the remaining 700 million Indians. And the successful Indian community in Canada can help in the betterment of underprivileged Indians, he said. Monte Solberg, Canadian minister for human resource and social development, said India was poised to become a technological and economic super power. India was a vibrant democracy which shared a common history and values with Canada. For these reasons, he said, the emerging economic power was strategically important for his country. The signing of the scientific and technological cooperation agreement in 2006 and the foreign investment protection and promotion agreement in 2007 showed the importance Canada attached to India, he said. Solberg said India-Canada trade ties will get a further boost with Prime Minister Stephen Harper announcing two new trade offices in Hyderabad and Mumbai. The minister said India-Canada relations are 'firing on all cylinders' and the 900,000-strong Indian community was contributing immensely to strengthening these ties. Ten Indo-Canadians and Canadians were also honoured at the gala for their achievements in their respective fields and contribution to promoting India-Canada relations. India asks Canada to share knowledge and technology (15 June 2008) The Press Trust of India Limited India has sought Canada's help and expertise in development of "affordable and accessible" technology that could help eradicate poverty in the country by the year 2015. Describing Canadians as the "most innovative people in the world", Minister of Science and Technology Kapil Sibal said India needed to avail the country's excellence and knowledge for developing technological solutions to challenges faced by the country. "India wants Canadian excellence in developing technologies that would be affordable and accessible to everybody and help in transforming rural face of the country," Sibal said here at the 31th annual awards of the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) last night. The Minister also presented awards to 11 Indo-Canadians for their outstanding contributions in enhancing trade and investment between the two countries. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper, in their messages, also commended the efforts made by ICCC in "promotion of trade and economic linkages between India and Canada". Citing the "India Calling Conference," that begins here tomorrow as an example of fast expanding bilateral relations between the two countries, Sibal called on the Indo-Canadian community to help in tackling challenges faced by India by providing knowledge, technology and investment. Canadian premier Harper had recently announced opening of two new trade offices in Hyderabad and Kolkata, as well as additional commercial staff for missions in Mumbai and New Delhi to help generate more commercial connections. Top politicians, executives of top Canadian companies, members of Canada-India Business Council, Canada India Foundation, and Canadian Cricket Association and over 1000 members of the ICCC attended the function. India asks Canada to share knowledge and technology (June 15) The Hindu India has sought Canada's help and expertise in development of "affordable and accessible" technology that could help eradicate poverty in the country by the year 2015. Describing Canadians as the "most innovative people in the world", Minister of Science and Technology Kapil Sibal said India needed to avail the country's excellence and knowledge for developing technological solutions to challenges faced by the country. "India wants Canadian excellence in developing technologies that would be affordable and accessible to everybody and help in transforming rural face of the country," Sibal said here at the 31th annual awards of the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) last night. The Minister also presented awards to 11 Indo-Canadians for their outstanding contributions in enhancing trade and investment between the two countries. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper, in their messages, also commended the efforts made by ICCC in "promotion of trade and economic linkages between India and Canada". Citing the "India Calling Conference," that begins here tomorrow as an example of fast expanding bilateral relations between the two countries, Sibal called on the Indo-Canadian community to help in tackling challenges faced by India by providing knowledge, technology and investment. Canadian premier Harper had recently announced opening of two new trade offices in Hyderabad and Kolkata, as well as additional commercial staff for missions in Mumbai and New Delhi to help generate more commercial connections. Top politicians, executives of top Canadian companies, members of Canada-India Business Council, Canada India Foundation, and Canadian Cricket Association and over 1000 members of the ICCC attended the function. Largest ever Indian trade delegation to visit Canada from June 15-20, 2008 (June 12 ) Canada India Foundation (CIF) is pleased to support the upcoming visit of the largest ever trade delegation from India to Canada on June 15-20, 2008 organised by the Indian Merchants' Chamber. The "India Calling" delegation comprises over 145 people, including 115 business delegates from key business sectors such as Infrastructure, Education, Information Communications and Technology, Alternative Energy, and Life Sciences. "We are coming to Canada to seek business opportunities," said Mr. M. N.Chaini, President of the Indian Merchants' Chamber (Mumbai). "And along the way, we are going to tell Canadian business and political leaders about the great opportunities that are available in India." The "India Calling" delegation is led by Hon. Kapil Sibal, Minister of Science and Technology and Ocean Development (India); Sam Pitroda, Chairman of the Knowledge Commission (India); and Hon. Suresh Prabhu, MP and former Union Minister of Power (India). While in Canada, the trade delegation will meet with business, academia and government officials including Hon. David Emerson, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; Hon. Peter MacKay, Minister of Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canadian Opportunities Agency; Hon. Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development and Trade (Ontario); and Hon. Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia. "If Canadians are interested in doing business in India, they should be meeting with members of this trade delegation," said Manoj Pundit, Director, Canada India Foundation. "With rule of law, democracy, a large English speaking population, and one of the world's fastest growing economies, India offers tremendous opportunities for Canadian companies." "Moreover, thanks to the leadership of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, David Emerson, Canada is taking active steps to finalize a foreign investment protection agreement with India, making India an even more attractive place for Canadian investment," added Pundit. CIF urges Canadian companies who are interested in participating in meetings with the delegation in Toronto and Vancouver to visit www.CanadaIndia.org for a copy of the program and a list of the delegates. Canada India Foundation ("CIF") is a national, not for profit organization established in 2007 and dedicated to promoting stronger bi-lateral relations between Canada and India, while working to secure and promote the interests of Canada's dynamic Indo-Canadian community within the Canadian mosaic. It's time to usher in nanomedicine revolution (12 June 2008) The Economic Times Like information technology, India could well usher in the nanomedicine revolution. Spearheading this mission are two Indian researchers, Kattesh V Katti and Raghuraman Kannan, who have conceived a nanomedicine institution. The project entails an investment of Rs 250 crore. The agenda for the researchers, who have made ground-breaking discoveries in this field, is to develop nanomedicine in a big way and drastically change healthcare delivery. Currently, they are attached to the University of Missouri in the US. "They are keen to come back to India and establish an institution for nanomedicine in the country," Sankara Nethralaya chairman emeritus Dr SS Badrinath told ET here on Wednesday. In India, there are only about a dozen nanomedicine specialists, he added. Dwelling on the mega nanomedicine project, he said Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have been identified as the twin locations to set up the institution. The project envisages an investment of Rs 250 crore and it would require about 100 acres. Given the pressure on land in cities, the nanomedicine institution is going to come up in a tier II location, he said. Nanotech is the future (16 June 2008) The Hindu Innovation in frontline areas such as nanotechnology is critical to India’s knowledge future. “Nano-technology is knocking at our doors. It is the field of the future that will replace microelectronics and many fields with tremendous application potential in the areas of medicine, electronics and material science,” former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said. He was delivering the inaugural address at the British Institute of Technology and e-commerce London (BITE) Nano Technology Laboratory recently. Mr. Kalam said the next ten years will see nanotechnology playing the most dominant role in the global business environment and is expected to go beyond the billion dollar estimates and cross the figure of $ one trillion. “I am happy that British Institute has a mission of creating a fusion of education research and consultancy to advanced knowledge and skills and has emerged as a catalyst organisation bringing together talent, industry and government,” Mr. Kalam said. Speaking on ‘Convergence of Technologies’, he said: “In a knowledge society, we have to make innovations continuously. Innovations come through creativity. Creativity comes from beautiful minds. It can be anywhere and any part of the world. It may start from a fisherman hamlet or a farmer’s household or a dairy farm or cattle breeding centre or it could emanate from classrooms or labs or industries or R&D centres. Creativity has got multi-dimensions like inventions, discoveries and innovations.” There are several challenges that are faced by the humanity as a whole, whether they are developed or developing. Clean environment, abundant energy, copious supply of water, empowerment of people with education and health care, availability of globally employable human resources, preservation of human culture and value system and above all looking at alternative habitat for the earth citizens are all global challenges as well as opportunities rather than just national issues. They require thinking globally and acting globally and locally, he said. The first step is to have a different mind set for global sourcing. It has to be seen beyond “profit” for a limited purpose. Global sourcing is an activity to create knowledge workers and leaders who are beyond the realm of narrow borders of geography, disciplines and products. Global sourcing is a methodology to combine the core competence of organisations and nations to design, develop products, processes and human resources for solving the major problems facing the planet earth. It should be realised that such working together would not only enable world-class products of optimum performance, cost and time, but also provide a sense of security to the world. Economic development of a nation is powered by competitiveness. The competitiveness is powered by knowledge power. The knowledge power is powered by Technology and innovation. Growth of Knowledge Society has always been the prime mover for prosperity, he said. Dwelling on other instances of Indian innovation, he said: “The top figure shows a sachet of shampoo that costs just Rs. 2, or about five cents! Imagine producing something for five cents that includes not just the aluminium for the sachet, but also its contents, not to mention the cost of distribution. Yet these sachets can be found everywhere in India. In India it has become common for villagers speaking on cellphones. India has the cheapest telephone rates in the world, for both land lines as well as cellphones. India also has the fastest growing telecom market in the world, adding roughly eight million cellphones every month! This amazing growth has been made possible because the Indian cellphone service providers had a number of innovative business models.” It will be a win-win for both, say analysts (12 June 2008) The Times of India The proposed takeover of Indian pharma major Ranbaxy Laboratories by Japanese drug major Daiichi Sankyo could open the gates for foreign buyers to scout for fundamentally strong Indian pharma companies. Although the stock price of Ranbaxy did not react sharply to the news on Wednesday, analysts covering the sector feel positively about the deal that values the Indian entity at about $8.5 billion. Market players feel that Ranbaxy could enter the Japanese market through this deal and get access to Daiichi's long list of drugs and superior technology. Daiichi on the other hand could gain from Ranbaxy's wide presence across the globe and its low-cost production facilities. On Wednesday, after an initial spike to Rs 592.70 in intra-day trade, its 52-week high level, the stock ended flat at Rs 560.80. In the GDR market, however, in early trades Ranbaxy was up nearly 4% to $13.5 and the premium over its domestic stock price was about 1%, Skindia GDR report showed. ''As it stands now, we feel that the deal would be a win-win for Ranbaxy and Daiichi,'' said Sarabjit Kour Nangra, VP research (specialist- pharmaceutical), Angel Broking. The Japanese drug maker can leverage the low cost advantage offered by India and complement it with its world-class infrastructure. Ranbaxy, on the other hand, would benefit from the product pipeline of Daiichi, Nangra added. Other analysts agree." We are positive on the deal. It's a win-win situation from a strategic and financial perspective," said Mallika Baheti, research analyst, Sharekhan. The deal price of Rs 737 per share is at a 31% premium to Ranbaxy's Tuesday price and 54% to the stock's three-month average closing price. Analyst feel this is a good opportunity for investors to tender their shares as the share price has rallied sharply over the last few sessions and may not see further upside. ''Most investors would opt to exit at this price primarily because the valuation is higher than expected. At Rs 737, the price is more than fair for both promoters and investors," said Nangra. Since the price has rallied sharply over the last few session analysts are also unsure about the near-term. "The price is attractive and the stock has already moved higher so there may not be much upside left in the near-term. There might also be some correction in the stock price post the open offer," said Baheti. The long-term performance of the stock will largely depend on synergies emerging between the two companies and how the new management takes the company forward. But analysts are cautiously positive on the long-term prospects of the stock. "We expect the stock to witness a 15% upside over the next 15 months," said Nangra. While equity analysts have given a thumbs up to the deal, ratings major CRISIL has placed its ratings on the short-term debt programme of Ranbaxy on 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications'. The pharma major's Rs 500 crore short-term debt has a P1+ rating from CRISIL. View Part 2 of the coverage |
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