India and Nepal have solidified their relationship with a new science and technology partnership, as announced by the Ministry of Science & Technology on Wednesday. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST).
Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director-General of CSIR, emphasized the importance of building technology and capacity-building partnerships with Nepal through NAST. She highlighted the significant untapped potential for collaboration across multiple sectors and stressed the need for swift implementation of the MoU with a focused action plan.
This renewed partnership builds on a long-standing relationship dating back to 1994 when CSIR and RONAST (now NAST) signed an agreement to promote joint research and technological development. The new MoU aims to rejuvenate this collaboration through various activities, including the exchange of scientific information, research materials, scientists, and organizing joint seminars, workshops, and training programs. It will also facilitate the execution of joint research projects, access to each other’s major research facilities, and technology partnerships.
The areas of cooperation will span biological sciences, food science and technology, water and environmental technologies, fuel and mining sciences, metallurgy, and material sciences, including nanotechnology, alternative energy, and drug discovery. The partnership also aims to foster the twinning of institutions for capacity development.
Prof. Dr. Dilip Subba, Vice-Chancellor of NAST, reaffirmed NAST’s commitment to the partnership, noting that this MoU would lay the foundation for a stronger and more enduring science and technology relationship between the two nations. He also proposed the formation of working groups to facilitate structured collaboration in priority areas.
This new agreement marks a significant milestone in Indo-Nepal scientific cooperation, opening new avenues for joint research, technological exchange, and shared innovation.
