India and Russia have been cooperating in Science & Technology for a long period. Initially the Science & Technology Cooperation was pursued under the Science & Technology agreement between India and Soviet Union concluded in 1972. Direct interaction between scientists and scientific institutes received a major boost when Integrated Long Term Programme of Cooperation (ILTP) was concluded at the highest level by the then Prime Minister of India and General Secretary of communist party of Soviet Union in 1987. During the 5th session of ILTP Joint Council held in Moscow in 1992, considering that Russia was successor State of USSR, ILTP was termed as Indo-Russian programme. Later, Indo-Soviet S&T agreement (1972) was replaced by a new Agreement on Science & Technology between India and Russia signed in 1994 in Moscow. Considering the benefit of ILTP, the programme was extended up to year 2010 with additional mandate of technology transfer to industry. The two governments have also concluded a Protocol on Protection and Usages of Intellectual Property arising out of Bilateral scientific cooperation.

The Science & Technology interaction between India and Russia is conducted through the following two types of programs:

(i) Programs Based on Inter-Governmental Bilateral Agreements:
These include the Integrated Long-Term Program of Cooperation (ILTP), the Working Group on Science & Technology, and the Academy Exchange Program.

(ii) Programs Based on Agreements Between Governmental Agencies:
These programs are based on Protocols, MoUs, and Agreements between Russian and Indian agencies.

Integrated Long-Term Program of Cooperation (ILTP):
Integrated Long Term Programme (ILTP) of cooperation in Science & Technology with Russia is the biggest and most exhaustive scientific collaboration, India has ever entered into. The programme facilitates bilateral cooperation between the scientific communities of two countries by way of joint research projects, bilateral workshops/seminar, focussed exploratory visits of scientists, visit of thematic scientific and composite (scientific and industrial) delegations. In addition, ILTP Fellowships are provided to the young and experienced Russian researchers to work in Indian laboratories and industrial units. ILTP is now equipped to catalyse technology transfer from the Russian scientific and production institutes to Indian industry. Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, New Delhi and Ministry of Industry, Science and Technology of the Russian Federation jointly with the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow are the nodal implementing agencies from the Indian and Russian sides respectively.

ILTP comprises of cooperation in 11 thrust areas related to frontiers of S&T, namely: Biotechnology and Immunology; Materials Science & Technology: Laser Science & Technology: Catalysis: Space Science & Technology: Accelerators & their Applications: Hydrology; Computer & electronics; Biomedical Science & Technology; Oceanology & Oceanic Resources and Engineering Sciences; and seven select areas of basis research in science, namely: Mathematics; Applied Mechanics; Earth Sciences; Physics & Astrophysics; Ecology and Environmental Protection; Chemical Sciences and Life Sciences.

ILTP CENTERS OF EXELENCE
Under this programme 8 joint Indo- Russian centers have been established to pursue the concerted areas where large interactive research work progresses and three mores have been conceived. Among the technology export capable countries, India is placed better in some areas such as technology licensing, number of scientists and engineers, and science and mathematical education levels. It is hoped that both the countries will resolve and take steps to benefit by industrial realization of high technologies and commercialization of products developed by joint research.

1. Setting up of Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials at Hyderabad is a proud example of accomplishments of ILTP. Presently, the Centre is operational with thrust on three major areas, namely, Powder Metallurgy; Surface Engineering and Ceramic Materials. This is a unique example where scientists and technologists work together for joint R&D and transfer of technologies to industry.

2. Another important accomplishment of the programme has emerged in the form of polio vaccine production facility, BIBCOL (Bharat Immunological and Biologicals Corporation Limited) at Bulandshahr. This Plant with a capacity of 100 million doses of polio vaccine annually has been receiving continuous help and inspiration from Russia.

3. Setting up of Indo-Russian Centre for Advanced Computing Research in Moscow has been another important milestone of this programme. The parallel computing system PARAM 10000, designed and developed by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) has been installed at the Indo-Russian Centre for Advanced Computing Research. Initially, the system is of 12.8 GFLOPS peak performance which would be subsequently upgraded after the multidisciplinary applications are optimized.

4. Indo-Russian Centre for Biotechnology at Allahabad is another addition to the list of Centers of excellence created under ILTP. The agreement for establishment of this Centre was formally concluded on 5th November 2001 in Moscow during the visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Russia between the Department of Science & Technology on the Indian side and the Russian Academy of Sciences on the Russian side

5. Indo-Russian Centre for Gas Hydrates is the latest addition to the list of Centers of excellence created under ILTP. The agreement for establishment of this Centre was formally concluded during the visit of Indian Prime Minister to Russia in November 2003 between the department of Science & Technology on the Indian side and the Russian Academy of Sciences on the Russian side. The Centre was inaugurated at National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai on 12th March 2003.

6. Indo-Russian Centre for Earthquake Research has been established at New Delhi. Several joint R&D projects are being coordinated by the Centre.

7. Russian Indian Centre on Ayurvedic Research was established on 1st October 2004 at Moscow. Genotype-phenotype studies on Prakriti and comparison of Indian and Russian population are being presently pursued.

8. Indo-Russian Centre for Biomedical Technology has been established at Thiruvananthapuram in January 2008. Few biomedical equipment are being identified for further joint development.

9. MOU for establishment of Indo-Russian Centre on Non-ferrous Metallurgy at Jamshedpur and Laser & Accelerator at Indore was concluded at Moscow in October 2007. Details on these centres is being worked out.

10. Indo-Russian Technology Centre at Moscow is also being conceived with an objective to catalyse transfer of successful technologies to industry.

Working Group on Science & Technology:

Following last meeting of the Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission, this Working Group has been redefined recently. It is coordinated from the Indian side by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and from the Russian side by the Ministry of Education and Science. The Working Group is servicing thematic cooperation between respective nodal agencies of two countries in the fields of Agricultural Research, Standardization, Metrology & Certification; s are functioning the following areas: Building Materials, Meteorology, Biotechnology, Medical Sciences, Ocean technology, Seismology, and Industrial Realization of High Technologies.

Inter - Academy Exchange Program:
INSA-RAS Cooperation:
This program was initiated in 1970 through an agreement signed between the erstwhile USSR Academy of Sciences and the Indian National Science Academy. The program has since continued by renewal of the agreement every five years. The thrust of this program is on pure sciences.

ICAR - RAAS Cooperation:
An agreement for cooperation in the field of agriculture and related subjects between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences (RAAS) was signed in New Delhi on 5th October, 1995. The agreement provides for scientific and technical cooperation, joint research projects, exchange of information and materials between both the countries and organization of bilateral workshops and seminars.

DST-RFBR Programme
Department of Science & Technology (DST) and Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) have launched a programme for cooperation in the fields of Basic Sciences. Call for proposals for joint R&D projects and joint workshops have been made in early 2008 and results of first call are yet to be made.

(ii) Programs Based on Agreements Between Governmental Agencies:
There are many programs which are based on the direct agreements between various Govt agencies of both the countries. These are pursued as per there contractual agreements.

For further details please contact SK Varshney, Counsellor(S&T), Embassy of India, Moscow tel.916-02-97.