India-Swiss signs cooperation agreeent

New Delhi, Nov 17 (UNI) India and Switzerland have signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation in science and technology.

The Executive Programme of Cooperation agreement for 2006-10 was signed between Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal and Swiss Home Affairs Minister Pascal Couchepin in Berne Swiss capital.

The executive programme is under the umbrella agreement on science and technology cooperation signed by India and Switzerland in 2003, according to the Science and Technology Ministry.

Mr Sibal is presently on a visit to Switzerland .

The areas of India-Swiss cooperation are in basic and applied sciences, technology and engineering and research and development.

The new agreement will allow joint research projects in science, information technology and application and nano science and technology.

It also envisages exchange of scientists and specialists and technical workshops and seminars, creation of joint India-Swiss laboratories and training of young scientists.

An industrial research and development programme is another highlight of the agreement, the ministry said.

Mr Sibal visited the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Luausanne yesterday.

UNI FZ MIR KP1900