India Becoming Powerful Player In Science And Tech: UK Minister
The UK must harness scientific and academic relationships with India as it becomes an increasingly powerful player in the science and technology space, Britain's minister for science, research and innovation has said.
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UK Minister emphasizes the importance of scientific collaboration between Britain and India.
London:
Britain's minister for science, research and innovation has emphasized that the UK needs to leverage scientific and academic relationships with India as it emerges as an increasingly influential player in science and technology.
Speaking at the 'Unlocking UK-India Collaboration for a New Era of Innovation' session during India Global Forum's Future Frontiers Forum at London's Science Museum on Thursday, Lord Patrick Vallance stressed the importance of facilitating greater mobility for highly skilled professionals through the Global Talent Visa and the need to capitalize on complementary skills across sectors.
The minister announced that the UK government will be releasing its highly anticipated Industrial Strategy in the coming weeks, which will outline key focus areas for strengthening partnership with India.
"There is already a robust relationship between India and the UK, and I believe it's expanding," Vallance noted.
"However, government-to-government scientific relationships aren't the sole driving force. Scientist-to-scientist connections are essential. Academic linkages are crucial. I would like to see these increase as India continues to emerge as an increasingly influential player in the science and technology domain," he added.
Earlier at the forum, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal addressed the wide-ranging benefits of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two nations, highlighting how it "adds value to science and technology and innovation".
"A Free Trade Agreement signals to the world that the two countries are friends, allies, and intend to collaborate closely; they trust each other," Goyal stated.
Vallance agreed and emphasized: "India has its priority areas, we have ours, and now we need to create opportunities across these sectors." Lord Ara Darzi, the renowned British surgeon behind a pivotal review of the National Health Service (NHS) and necessary reform areas, praised India's "transformative health solutions" as the "intellectual and production power" with which the UK must collaborate.
The forum also featured a 'Pitchers and Punters' showcase where Indian startups pitched to international investor judges.
Notable companies included Zypp Electric, Lina Energy, Steamology Motion Ltd and Electric Miles - with Zypp Electric securing this year's Clean Tech Award presented by British renewable energy group Octopus Energy.