EU invites Indian researchers to be part of FP7

Bangalore, June 8 (UNI) The European Union, enjoying a strategic understanding with India in the field of Science and Technology, has appealed to the Indian research community to participate on a large scale in its ambitious 55 billion Euros 7th EU research Framework Programme (FP7).

Addressing a press conference here today, Dr Andrew Sars, Minister-Counsellor, Head of Science and Technology, European Commission Delegation to India, Bhutan and Nepal, said the EU was looking forward to have greater participation from the Indian research scientists in FP7, the largest international research and Development project in the world in Health, Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology.

Dr Sars was here, along with a business delegation, to take part in the three-day ''Bangalore Bio 2006,' the country's largest biotech show.

Stating that the FP7 programme would adopt two different approaches, he said while all collaborative research activities would be open for International cooperation, specific International Cooperation Actions were also possible to address specific issues of common interest for mutual benefit.

Talking about collaborative research under FP 7, he said it would spend 5,984 million Euros between 2007-2013 in the health sector, encompassing three main areas--biotechnology, generic tools and technologies for human health, translating research for human health and optimising the delivery of healthcare.

Similarly, in food, agriculture and biotechnology sectors, focus would be on three main areas--sustainable production and management of biological resources from land, forest and aquatic environments, 'Fork to Farm:' food, health and well being and life sciences and Biotechnology for sustainable non-food products and processes.

Dr Sars said Indian researchers could participate in EU-funded research programmes for deriving mutual benefit. ''India and EU share the proud tradition of scientific excellence as well as a strong commitment to the crucial growth of science and technology for economic growth as well as for society needs.'' He described as most successful the sixth EU Research Framework Programme under which over 50 collaborative research projects were taken up. The Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, IIT Mumbai, New Delhi and Roorkie, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, the Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi, and the Banaras Hindu University were among the major institutions which took part in the FP6 programme.

Referring to the EU having more research and collaboration programmes with China than India, Dr Sars cited several reasons for the preference, including centralised decision making system and China according prominence to Biotechnology than any other sector.

To a question, he said the EU was funding more research projects in the health sector than agriculture as its people were totally against entry of genetically modified crops.

UNI