Asian researchers to get 70 fellowships

Dr Harsha Vardhan, Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences threw open 70 fellowships and 200 travel slots for training researchers of neighbouring countries amounting to Rs 5 crore , to enable capacity building in these nations at the conclave of science and technology (S&T) ministers here on Friday.

At the ministers’ conclave, a part of India International Science Festival (IISF), Abdul Latif Roshan, Minister of Higher Education, Afghanistan, Yeafesh Osman, Minister of Science and Technology, Bangladesh and YS Chowdary, Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, India outlined the priorities, challenges and opportunities in science and technology in their respective countries. 

Speaking at the conclave, Dr Harsha Vardhan said, “For human capacity building in S&T, the 2018-India Science and Research Fellowship (ISRF) scheme will provide a fully paid fellowship to researchers, scientists and academicians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka to undertake research and development work of their choice at any premier research and academic institution in India up to a period from 3 to 6 months.

Towards training of researchers, the science agencies in India, including CSIR, DBT, MOES, IMD, DST and SERB will organise tailor made hands-on training programs. 

Nearly, 200 travel slots every year was announced for the researchers from these countries to be supported by the Department of Science and Technology,” he added. 

For institutional capacity building and technical assistance in Science and Technology, a twinning programme between an Indian institution and an R&D or an Academic institution in the neighbouring country was also committed by India.