Date:07/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/11/07/stories/2006110703650300.htm

Back DST, CII sign pact to facilitate tech partnerships

Our Bureau

FOR TECH COMPETITIVENESS: The Minister for Science and Technology, Mr Kapil Sibal, with the CII President, Mr R. Seshasayee (right), and the Manging Director, Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, Mr Malvinder Mohan Singh, at the 12th Technology Summit & Technology Platform in the Capital on Monday. - Kamal Narang

New Delhi , Nov. 6

The Confederation of Indian Industry and the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt of India, have signed an MoU to facilitate technology partnership between overseas and Indian industry and institutes to enhance the technological competitiveness of Indian organisations.

The partnerships will take place under `Global Innovation & Technology Alliance' through joint developments or ventures, technology transfers or licensing.

At the 12th Technology Summit and Technology Platform organised by the CII and DST, Mr Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Science and Technology, announced a five-point programme to connect innovation with science and technology to make it locally relevant for India and the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean), which was also a partner at the summit.

Building linkages

The programme includes building linkages between science and business, and the public and private sectors. ``The challenges facing the Indian and Asean region are common, but too large to be faced singly,'' said Mr Sibal calling for collaboration in science and technology.

Stressing the need for collaboration between India and Asean, Mr Ong Keng Yong, Secretary-General, Asean, said innovation was a priority and that is where India could find an advantage by helping Asean's newly developing countries.

Underlining the importance of innovation in the knowledge economy, the Malaysian Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Jamaluddin Bin Dato' Mohammad Jarjis, said: "The biotechnology initiative between India and Asean would help forge alliances in healthcare, environment, agriculture and energy.''

Asean, he added, was taking big strides in economic integration, and the countries were expected to be integrated into a single market by 2020.