Building relationships

The 11th Technology Summit and Technology Platform to promote International Technology Partnerships for the Indian Industry and R&D Organisations, was organized on September 21st to 22nd 2005, at Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi. The Summit was jointly organised by CII and Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. This is in keeping with the ongoing efforts of CII and DST, which have been working together to extend the benefi ts of international linkages of DST to the industry. Such tieups include providing technology information and networking with overseas organisations. Canada was the partnering country at TechSummit2005.

Canada’s participation was marked by the presence of some of Canada’s best industry, research and academic institutions (115 delegates from Canada!) that were looking forward to partnerships with relevant Indian organisations. Mr Y P Kumar – Head International Division, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India remarked on the positive trend indicated in this year’s Summit where more than 115 participants from Canada were present, unlike other years when the representation from the participating country was about

a quarter of this number.

The focus, at the Canada Pavilion in the concurrent exposition – Technology Platform 2005, was on developing S&T linkages, for which a study was conducted earlier. Apart from the Governments of both countries, the summit had participation from among the best of industry, the academic world, transnational joint ventures in R&D institutions, contract research laboratories, technology financing organisations and transfer agencies.

Almost every section of Technology that affects the common man was covered at the Summit – Energy and Environment, Fuel Cells, Hydrogen Energy, Next Generation IT- Infotainment and Nanotechnology, with the focus on the following technology sectors:

• Biotechnology, Health Research and Medical Devices

• Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: The New Revolution

• Sustainable and Alternate Energy and Environmental Technologies

• The Next Generation of Information Technologies: Infotainment, Wireless, Rural Connectivity

• Earth Sciences and Disaster Mitigation Technologies

• Role of Public-Private Partnership in promoting Innovation

On the occasion V S Ramamurthy, Secretary, Department of science & Technology, Govt. of India while reinforcing the spirit of partnership in the globalised world of today, noted that ten years from now this Summit is going to be seen as a pathbreaking initiative.

Mr N Srinivasan, Director General, CII emphasized that India is looking forward technology as a Strategic tool for business, for sustaining competitiveness and also as a movement worldwide.

11th Technology Summit refl ected a change in the mindset of the people – which is now determined to achieve progress through strengthening technology. Mr Kapil Sibal – Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology Government of India reaffi rmed his commitment to developing this path. He stated that today technology is not an esoteric thing, which was a confi rmation of the fact that excellence of technology and the applicability of it was a positive reality. Mr Sibal thanked James Peterson, Minister of International Trade, Canada for getting such a remarkable team of delegates from Canada to accompany him to India. On behalf of CII he

committed to be on the course to connect with the Indian industries and

build a relationship between India and Canada. He emphasizes that we cannot afford to wait for 5-10 years to see the effects of this Summit. He was hopeful that entrepreneurs and technologists would work together to achieve substantially over the two days, of the on going Summit.

Dr Arthur J Carty, National Science Advisor to the Prime Minister, Canada asserted that Canada and India have a common goal – Science

and Technology and the only way to move forward is moving together.

There was a general agreement that Technology has to be for the common people. Canada’s population of 38 million is a little over the national capital territory of India ‘s population of 1.1 billion. For Indian people have housing, water etc problems and technology had to reach both levels. Technology must reach the people on the streets that is the test of success for any collaboration, was the unanimous decision. Examples cited included that of bamboo, where technology has enabled extensive use even in building. Biotechnology is the other sector that can help in increasing the per capita growth of our country. Even in the Health sector specifi cally for the diseases of the poor – malaria, HIV and hepatitis technology has to make its contribution by developing vaccines and medicines and making them available at affordable costs to the poor.

There was an enunciation of the fact that three Ts are essential for excelling – Talent, Technology and Tolerance and both Canada and India have the three.More than 15 sessions took place at this summit, and 290 one-to-one meetings were co-coordinated between Indian & Canadian organisations. A session was also organised on Earth Science and Disaster Management where some interesting presentations were made both from Canada and India. The session focused on the importance and potential of geomatics sciences in disaster management.

A total number of 300 people participated from industries and institutions in India. While 4 Expression of Interest were signed between Indian & Canadian Organisations, a Joint- Venture MOU was also signed between the Indian company Animation Bridge and Canadian company Kahani Inc. for Indian-themed Children’s Television Series.

The Government of Canada recently released a Canada-India Science and Technology (S&T) Study (www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/asia/ country/india-en.asp) which shows fields where the two countries can complement each other. It is such tested conviction that fuelled Canada

setting aside in its 2005 budget $20 million over fi ve years to support new international S&T partnerships with select countries, including India.

Canada’s recently released International Policy Statement pays signifi cant attention to India as well as S&T. Moreover, the CII Technology Summit continues from where the 2005 Canada-India Joint Statement issued by the two Prime Ministers and the Joint Declaration on S&T Cooperation signed during the recent Canada Trade Mission to India led by the Minister of International Trade, left off.

The timetable was also set for the Indo- Canadian Science and Biotechnology agreement between the ministers of the two countries, which will happen in the 3rd week of November this year. It has been planned to set up a Nanotechnology Centre in India and an initial round of discussions have taken place. Other areas of successful initiatives included the areas of Industrial R&D development and Joint Ventures.

Dr R A Mashelkar in his Valedictory Address insisted on the fact that the Technology & Innovation needs to be actively promoted under Public- Private partnership for effective results. He also cited success cases from Indian industry and institutions.

Dr Arthur J Carty, National Science Advisor to the Prime Minister, summed up the proceedings with a belief that the Summit will lead to concrete ideas and strengthen an Indo- Canadian relationship on Science and Technology. He hoped to continue renewing Canadian relationship with India to encourage the Indian community to come to Canada & viceversa. He was also happy to declare that they were on their way to signing a couple of agreements in November already granted by the Canadian govt. for substantial collaborations.