A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between India’s Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) and France’s National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) to establish a framework for cooperation and promote and support scientific and technological research.
A team led by the Director-General of CSIR met the delegation from CNRS, led by its President and CEO, a press release has said.
Given the potentially beneficial and synergistic cooperation possibilities for translating science into technology, CSIR and CNRS may explore joint innovation and the transfer of technologies.
Under the MoU, the two sides will share good practices, promote technology transfer, and enhance industry-academia cooperation.
The broad research areas of mutual interest include biotechnology (plant and marine biotechnology); health research; environment and climate change studies; engineering science and technology; material science and technology; energy science and technology and water research.
CSIR’s Director-General stated that India and France have been natural partners and CSIR and CNRS have had longstanding relations since 1975. CSIR labs CSIR-IICT and CSIR-NCL are currently implementing joint programmes with CNRS, which have generated several joint publications, patents, and Ph.Ds.
The Head of CNRS noted that CSIR is a valued and trusted partner and believes that the MoU will boost cooperation even further and contribute to many critical areas such as health, water, energy, and climate change, addressing the global challenges.
Founded in 1939, CNRS is the largest fundamental research organisation in Europe. CNRS is an interdisciplinary public research organisation under the administrative supervision of the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
CNRS carries out research in the areas of biological sciences, chemistry, earth sciences and astronomy, mathematical sciences, physics, and social science through its ten institutes.
CNRS performs fundamental research on applied objectives with French companies in France and also abroad. CNRS is funded by public money and also receives competitive funding.
Though CNRS is a fundamental research organisation, it performs fundamental research on applied objectives with French companies in France and also abroad. CNRS has set up four such co-funded centres with industry partnerships in China, Japan, and Singapore to address local needs.
Set up in 1942 as an autonomous body, CSIR is now the largest publicly funded multi-disciplinary industrial R&D organisation in India under the administrative supervision of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The 37 R&D institutes of CSIR being manned by around 3,600 scientists with support from about 5,100 S&T staff. It conducts research in a wide spectrum of science and technology from aerospace, instrumentation, environmental engineering, housing and structures to oceanography, chemicals, drugs, and biotechnology.
CSIR provides technological intervention in many areas concerning societal efforts including environment, health, food, housing, energy, and farm and non-farm sectors. CSIR caters to the technological needs of India as well as foreign industries based in India and abroad.