The UK and India work together

UK and Indian researchers will collaborate on health research and the changing global water cycles – which both present huge challenges for our societies as we adapt to a changing climate.

The UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to encourage research on major global health issues. As part of this new collaboration, both agencies will launch a joint call later this year for research on chronic non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic respiratory diseases, which are highly prevalent in both countries.

The UK Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills, Pat McFadden and the Indian Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Mr Gandhiselvan, discussed the mutual benefits the research would bring during a meeting where the agreement was signed by Dr Alicia Greated (Director of the Research Councils UK (RCUK) office in India) and Dr VM Katoch (Director General of ICMR).

The collaboration will also focus on research areas such as persisting, new and emerging infections and the impact of environmental change on health.

The two countries also agreed two joint projects in solar energy, with Research Councils UK and the Indian Department of Science and Technology each committing up to £5 million over a three-year period for two research projects: • Advancing the efficiency and production of excitonic solar cells. This will focus on the development of materials, structures, processing and photovoltaic panel engineering of excitonic solar cells - a class of non-conventional solar cell based on new types of materials. It will build on existing research in both the UK and India to develop cheaper and higher volume solar cell manufacture.

• Stability and performance of photovoltaics. This will focus on improving materials supply and developing better designs to create cheaper and more efficient solar cells.

Pat McFadden, who is visiting India to strengthen science and innovation ties, said: “These two agreements are vital, especially as they seek to address challenges that have major global implications for the future. They bring together leading researchers in the UK and India and strengthen the science and innovation relationship between our two countries.

“But at the heart of these ambitious collaborations is a mutual drive to bring positive benefits to the daily lives of millions of people in India, the UK and the rest of the world.”