Article Posted on : - Dec 16, 2011

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Russias deputy foreign minister A M Vadakin on his arrival at Moscow international airport on Thursday. Photo: PTI

MOSCOW (PTI): Aiming to commercialise the spinoff from joint projects, India and Russia today opened a scientific and technological centre here ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's arrival.

"This new Centre will seek to commercialise the results of joint India-Russia R&D efforts. This initiative is of particular importance to both countries in their effort to encourage innovation and modernisation," Indian Ambassador Ajai Malhotra said after inaugurating the centre.

The Moscow-based centre would commercialise innovative technologies developed jointly or independently by Indian and Russian scientists.

It is headed by Dr Sergei Sukonkin, who is the Director of Experimental Design Bureau of Oceanological Engineering.

The Centre is expected to be of considerable mutual benefit. Malhotra announced that a similar centre would be opened in New Delhi early next year.

Both units will work in close coordination to intensify interaction between Indian industry and Russian scientific/ production institutes and will go a long way in meeting mutual needs.

The Russian-Indian Scientific and Technological Centre is to build on existing linkages between Indian and Russian scientific establishments, to facilitate and channelise commercial and industrial applications of technologies developed in the two countries.

Integrated Long-Term Programme (ILTP) - the flagship program of Indo-Russian S&T Cooperation, has already resulted in successful completion of over 500 joint R&D projects, including the setting up of 9 joint R&D centres in India.

During the 2010 Summit in New Delhi the ILTP programme has been extended for further 10 years, with particular focus on innovative technologies.

However, the existing programme does not explicitly address issues related to technology transfer and commercialisation.

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