The seventh meeting of the Japan-India Science Council was held in New Delhi, India on 20 September 2003, co-arranged by DST (Department of Science and Technology, India) and JSPS. The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Saburo Nagakura, President of the Japan Academy, and Prof. C.N.R. Rao, Honorary President of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research.

 

JSPS and DST have been holding these Council meetings annually since 1993. The Council has led scientific cooperation between two countries, especially in six priority fields listed below:

• Molecular Structure, Dynamics, and Molecular Materials, including Supramolecular Science
• Advanced Materials, including Polymers and Nanomaterials
• Modern Biology and Biotechnology
• Manufacturing Sciences
• Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Surface and Interface Science, including Catalysis

In these areas, JSPS and DST jointly support scientist exchanges, joint seminars, and joint research projects organised by scientists from both countries. The purpose of the seventh Council meeting was to monitor the progress of activities and achievements over the 2001-2003 period, and to confirm the activities for the 2003- 2004 period in the six priority areas while planning additional collaborations between Japan and India.

Dr. Nagakura, the Japanese chair, remarked:
"The India-Japan Cooperative Science Programme has enjoyed success in promoting academic collaboration between Japanese and Indian scientists over the 10 years of its operation to date. As I am sure we all agree, this programme has helped to undergird academic bridges between our two countries, particularly in its six priority areas. This success owes in great part to the devoted efforts of the coordinators in each priority field. I believe our initiatives have contributed greatly to the flourishing relations enjoyed between our two countries in the world of science."
Mr. Koji Nakanishi, executive director of JSPS, also remarked:
"Japan and India regard science and technology as the most important factor in achieving sustained development and prosperity in our societies. For this reason, both of our governments invest considerable effort and resources in scientific promotion. In Japan, JSPS plays a key role in advancing this mission by carrying out a wide range of programmes and initiatives. Among these, international cooperation is very important for JSPS, particularly as Japan seeks to tackle and solve global issues scientifically."

"Over and above these bilateral exchanges, I am pleased to say that various forms of scientific collaboration have become common between our countries. When we set up this Council in 1993, very few young scientists from India came to Japan. Now in 2003, over 200 Indian postdoctoral researchers are conducting research in Japan under JSPS's fellowship programmes. Furthermore, whereas only 12 senior scientists from India were supported by JSPS in 1994, this year visits by well over 60 senior Indian researchers are being funded by JSPS. This is five times more than just ten years ago. India is now one of the biggest counterparts for JSPS. This situation speaks clearly of the huge impact the Council's initiatives have had on both our research communities."

The Council, also attended by Prof. V.S. Ramamurthy, secretary of DST, discussed a wide range of issues and confirmed all the proposed activities. At the end of the meeting, the co-chairs, Dr. Nagakura and Prof. Rao, signed the Agreed Minutes. The next meeting is expected to be held in late 2004.

AGREED MINUTES OF THE SEVENTH MEETING OF INDIA-JAPAN SCIENCE COUNCIL