Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh has said that India-Canada Bilateral Centre will be set up for dedicated science and technology (S&T) activities between India and Canada.

He said, India has already established a few bilateral centres with other countries such as US, Germany, France etc. which are dedicatedly working on various useful S&T schemes for India and the partner country.

A delegation led by Canadian Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development  Mary Ng called on Dr Jitendra Singh and reviewed the progress of bilateral cooperation in several key areas.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that renewal of two MoUs between India and Canada is due and is proposed to be signed in upcoming Joint Committee Meeting in May, 2022. The first MoU relates to National Science Engineering Research Center (NSERC) Canada and it is project based scientific exchange programme along with the development of human resource in basic & Applied Sciences of direct relevance to society. The joint research publications/patents/technologies are developed by the academic Institutes. The main focus of this collaboration is to help the society with Science and Technology.

The second agreement relates to National Research Council (NRC) Canada and it is Industrial R&D project based scientific collaboration in which Industries from both the sides jointly develop prototype and commercialize it. The funding of the project was done by both the sides (Industry as well as two Government). It is milestone-based activity and the funding was returned back by the Industry as Royalty.