Question : India-Korea Science and Technology Ministers’ Meeting

(a) whether the fourth India-Korea Science and Technology Ministers’ Steering Committee meeting was held recently;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the issues discussed in the meeting;

(c) the number of Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) signed in the field of Science and Technology along with the terms and conditions thereto;

(d) the advantage that India will get out of these MoUs; and

(e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to expand and boost scientific collaboration with other countries?

MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES AND MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

(a) & (b): Yes Madam. The fourth India-Korea Science and Technology Ministers’ Steering Committee meeting was held in New Delhi on 9th July 2018. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Science of the Republic of India and Mr. You Young Min, Minister for Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea led the Indian and Republic of Korean delegations, respectively. The issues discussed during the meeting included (i) ways and means to augment cooperation and exchange of researchers in science, technology and innovation between the two countries and (ii) establishing India-Korea Centre for Research and Innovation (IKCRI) in New Delhi as the hub for systematic operation and management of all cooperative programmes between the two countries.

(c) Following Four Memorandum of Understandings were signed in the field of Science & Technology:

(i) Establishment of Future Strategy Group to build a collaborative platform that can utilize the
potential of both the countries towards fostering innovation and create impact by co-funding
collaborative enterprise-led joint Research & Development projects in areas of digital
transformation, future manufacturing, future utilities and health care;
(ii) Cooperation in Biotechnology & Bioeconomy to foster joint research in health and medicine,
agro-fishery products developed with the adoption of biotechnology; environment-related
challenges and developing environmental and energy sectors through bio-technology, big data
biotechnology; bio-research resources; synthetic biology, genome editing and microbiomes,
etc.
(iii) MoU between Indian Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and South Korean
National Research Council for Science & Technology (NST) aimed at promoting joint research,
exchange of researchers, resources and information through cooperation between CSIR and NST
in their priority areas including water, energy, biotechnology, alternate materials and
robotics
(iv) MoU between Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai and Korea Institute of Science & Technology
to facilitate exchange of PhD students.

(d) The cooperation will foster R&D collaboration between Indian industries and academia by leveraging Indian strength in basic research through partnering with Korean institutions and industries known for consistent strength in refinement of innovation and making such refinement marketable.

(e) Presently, India has bilateral S&T cooperation agreements with 80 countries and active cooperation with around 47 countries. During the recent years the cooperation has strengthened significantly with Australia, Canada, EU, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK and USA through similar arrangements. Similarly, the level of cooperation with African nations has also been significantly enhanced through India Africa S&T Initiative and the soft prowess of S&T been leveraged to engage under India''s Act East policy with neighbouring countries.

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