Third Meeting of Indo-US Science & Technology held

The 3rd Science and Technology Joint Commission meeting between India and USA was held on November 17, 2014 in New Delhi. The JCM was co-Chaired by YS Chowdary Minister of State for Science & Technology, Government of India and Dr. John Holdren, Director, White House Office of Science & Technology Policy and the Science Adviser to the U.S. President. Both sides recognized the value of the science and technology cooperation in being one of the pillars and integral component of overall bilateral relationship.

Chowdary highlighted the importance which the present government underlines to the promotion and support to science with a human face which will underpin the development of technology required to support the knowledge economy of this century.

Four Working Groups on Basic and Applied Sciences; Health and Medical Sciences; Earth, Environment and Climate Sciences; and Emerging Materials and Advanced Manufacturing had very fruitful discussions in not only evaluating the progress but also identifying new areas of future cooperation. Both sides have agreed to establish a new Working Group on plant biotechnology and agricultural research which is vital for addressing food security in context to food-water-climate nexus.

A very crucial area of Global Health Security has been jointly addressed for cooperation towards emergency preparedness and response; anti-microbial resistance; emerging infections like Ebola. Similarly the aspects of environmental health have been also covered especially with respect to water, air pollution, sanitation and hygiene. India and USA also agreed to take forward collaboration in ground water studies, monsoon modeling, tropical cyclones and severe weather systems. The future areas of collaboration in marine services, deep drilling in the ocean, satellite observation and assimilation and wave modeling were jointly identified. It was agreed that the Department of Science & Technology and U.S. NSF will strengthen cooperation in the area of women in science, particularly in networking and mentoring.

Dr. John Holdren emphasized the need to use and apply science to address some of the impending challenges which India and USA needs to meet for its food, water and energy security. It was decided that through cooperation innovative solutions can be developed which are affordable and meets not only bilateral needs but would be of larger global good.