By IANS,
Jaipur: Creating ties between countries in research and technology has now become an important part of bilateral ties, scientists were told at a workshop on technology diplomacy here Tuesday.
“For any modern country, international cooperation in science is absolutely necessary, and holds as much importance as collaboration in the fields of trade, economics and politics,” said former Indian envoy Kishan Rana, speaking at the five-day training programme for science and technology diplomacy.
The workshop is being conducted by Jaipur-based think tank, CUTS International, with support of Government of India’s Department of Science and Technology.
“This five-day-long workshop is being conducted to enhance the capacity of Indian scientists, working with various government departments, to conduct successful technology diplomacy,” said a press release.
Rana said that India has only four science counsellors placed in its missions abroad, while Japan has 28 specialist scientific officers in other countries.
At the same time, India now plans to expand scientific collaboration, with an increase in the number of science counsellors in other countries.
Scientists attending this workshop include Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), and Central Institute of Cotton Research.