Launches a raft of joint research programmes with £119 million grants to advance shrimp farming, HAB detection, fisheries
The UK and India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement on science, research and innovation, which facilitates a raft of upcoming joint research programs – including aquaculture initiatives. Partnership attracts initial £119 million from the International Science Partnerships Fund.
The partnership will begin with two new joint UK-India research programmes:
- £5 million UK funding, matched by India, for research into Farmed Animal Diseases and Health
- £3.3 million UK funding, matched by India, towards a technology and skills partnership programme that will enable UK and Indian researchers to develop skills, technologies and knowledge in areas such as AI, machine learning and bio-imaging.
The agreement includes a study on using “cutting edge UK technology” to spot diseases in shrimp aquaculture, as well as a partnership using data to detect harmful algal blooms (HABs) affecting the ocean.
Programmes include the establishment of a new UK-India Net Zero Innovation Virtual Centre focusing on industrial decarbonisation and the launch of the first ever UK-India scientific deep sea voyage.
The collaborative activities carried out under the MoU will be supported by joint funding agreed by both sides, with finances for each program determined between the UK and India on a case-by-case basis.
Furthur, the collaboration enables quicker, deeper engagement on science between the two science powerhouses that will drive economic growth, create skilled jobs and improve lives in the UK, India, and worldwide.
“The agreement will remove red tape standing in the way of major collaborations while unleashing a raft of new joint research schemes aiming to deliver progress on some of the biggest issues facing the world: from climate change and pandemic preparedness through to AI and machine learning,” reads the official report of the UK government announcements.
“With our extensive trading and cultural links, shared democratic values and interest in urgent global issues from green technology and agri-tech to biosecurity and pandemic preparedness, we have very strong platforms for deepening research collaboration” said Minister of State for the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology George Freeman.
