India, UK to create “NET Zero” innovation virtual centre to decarbonise economies

New Delhi: India and United Kingdom have decided to jointly create India-UK “NET Zero” Innovation Virtual Centre to decarbonized the economy for achieving the climate targets.

The initativative was announced by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology  Jitendra Singh, while chairing the India-UK Science & Innovation Council meeting in presence of his British counterpart, UK Minister George Freeman on Thursday.

The aim of the proposal to bring stakeholders from both countries together to work in some of the focus areas including Decarbonization of manufacturing process & transport systems and Green Hydrogen as renewable source. 

Dwelling on the issue of India’s net zero journey, Dr Jitendra Singh said, “India is on the fast track and the nation is determined to achieve its Climate Change and Environmental targets on time”.

“Energy efficiency and renewable energy are central pillars, where India has already taken lead by various initiatives like India Solar Alliance, Clean energy mission etc” he added.

Dr Jitendra Singh mentioned that India is committed towards the Environmental goals which includes consistent efforts towards development of mitigation & monitoring solutions for environmental pollution and techno based pathways for reducing the carbon emissions and achieve the ambitious net zero targets.

Talking about the importance of Industry-Academia collaboration for economic growth and development, the Union Minister said that the revival of the DST Innovate UK Industrial R & D programme will provide opportunities to the Indian and UK  for developing newer products for economic growth of both nations.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that the multidimensional, multi-institutional, multi-agency cooperation covers energy security, food and agriculture, water, climate change, environmental studies as well as social and cultural changes that are taking place in both countries. 

He recalled that during the last India UK virtual summit held during May 2021, Prime Ministers from both countries emphasized their shared commitment to an enhanced partnership in science, education, research and innovation and look forward to the next ministerial Science and Innovation Council (SIC).

Both the leaders also called for enhanced Science & Technology cooperation between India and the United Kingdom. The Union Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the UK has emerged as India’s second largest international research and innovation partner. 

“The India-UK Science & Technology (S&T) collaboration has been growing at a rapid pace and the joint research programme has gone from an almost zero base to close to £300-400 million now” he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that during the last 75 years, India has gone through an evolutionary journey that helped us to carve an economic and political identity amidst the global nations. 

:Today when India is celebrating the 75th year of its Independence, the roadmap for the next 25 years for India @100, will be determined by scientific and technological innovations in all walks of life” he said.