The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), Ministry of Defence. The MoU envisages to build research collaborations in biomedical sciences and also promote scientific cooperation through faculty exchange programmes. 

DBT and AFMS will formulate joint academic activities such as short courses, seminars, workshops and conferences based on mutual interests and available expertise in the institutions.

The objective is also to explore opportunities of undertaking joint research projects to be funded by DBT and work together for the purpose of identifying the needs of the country in terms of research and technology and collaborate in the identified areas.     

The two parties will explore opportunities for interaction among members of faculty between DBT and AFMS institutions as well as for possibility of visiting faculty arrangements. 

During the signing of the MoU, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh launched the Association of Physicians of India (API) Chapter of AFMC, Pune and also inaugurated the first annual conference of API-AFMS Continuing Medical Education (CME) on “Emerging trends in the practice of Medicine”.