IISC to launch exchange prog with US univ

Bangalore, Aug 12: Celebrating its centenary year in 2008, India's premier Scientific institution, the Indian Institute of Science here is all set to launch an exchange programme of scientists with Universities in the United States.

IISc Department of Instrumentation head Prof S Mohan, who is also IISc Alumni Association Chairman, told the sources that during IISc Alumni Global Conference held in June in San Francisco where in various University heads, Industrialists participated, it was decided to go in for joint collaboration and to begin with Scientists would move from both the sides, faculty as well as students exchange would take place for mutual benefit.

"If everything goes well the Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger was expected to visit India in November. Some announcements will come at that time " he added He said that " after the Conference, I stayed for five weeks and held a detailed discussion with the Universities and Industries who expressed their willingness to extend and receive support".

The main aim of the global conference was to activate IISc Alumni settled in USA.

Replying to a question, Prof Mohan said that Industries have already expressed their willingness to fund the programmes. To begin with there would joint collaboration with 10 Universities in six fields selected including Energy, environment, Knowledge Sciences, Information Communication Technologies, Automotive, Aero Space and Bio-technology.

"We had large meetings with University of California Chancellor, we have decided on the action plan. People are going to come from there, Companies like Infosys, Boeing and General Motors have already given the money to kickstart the initiative'' he said adding that the Government of India had also promised to fund an exchange programme for students and faculty.

Mr Schwarzenegger was likely to visit Delhi, Mumbai, most probably Hyderabad and Bangalore and we would like to have meeting at the time bring the government and academic institutions and industries closer to make an announcement.

"With a changed scenario, US has been thinking of India especially for this type of partnership looking at its market and looking at the capability of intellectual they have been doing it for last two years but now it is reaching a sort of climax and we have to cash on that. If you don't cash on that it will not happen", he added.

UNI