NEW DELHI: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, addressed the 10th “India-Sweden Innovation Day” meeting today. He pledged deeper cooperation between the two nations and called for strengthening India-Sweden bilateral cooperation to effectively address pressing global challenges while remaining steadfast in the pursuit of immediate goals on the path to a more prosperous future. Dr. Jitendra Singh, who spoke on behalf of the Indian government, said that businesses on both sides should be encouraged to collaborate in research and exchange human resources.Dr. Jitendra Singh noted that nine Swedish companies visited India this year as part of the India-Sweden Innovations Accelerator programme in order to expand their export and investment opportunities in the area of green technology and strengthen ties between Sweden and India in this field. The Minister mentioned that in 2023, both nations would mark the fifth anniversary of the Sweden-India Joint Declaration on Innovation Partnership for a Sustainable Future as well as the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. The 10th India Sweden Innovation Day’s theme is “Innovation for a Better World,” according to him, and it is a momentous occasion.Dr. Jitendra Singh reaffirmed that the goal of this historic occasion is to realise a net-zero future by leveraging our individual areas of expertise and driving ecologically sustainable growth. Dr. Jitendra Singh said that in May 2022, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji reaffirmed their commitment to encouraging cooperative research and innovation across a variety of fields, including polar and space research. The relationship, according to the minister, spans a number of industries, including energy, clean technology, new materials, space, the circular and bio-based economy, health and life sciences, and transportation and eMobility.In accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, he also said that the India-Sweden Innovation Partnership builds links between institutions, R&D-intensive industries, and creative entrepreneurs. Dr. Jitendra Singh reported that the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has announced the INDIA-SWEDEN Collaborative Industrial Research & Development call in association with the Swedish Government Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA). According to him, this effort is a crucial component of the larger Sweden-India Innovation Partnership, which seeks to increase competitiveness and find creative solutions to urgent global problems like climate change and sustainable development.Dr. Jitendra Singh pointed out that the joint call for proposals between Sweden and India in the area of the circular economy was first made public last year. Three large projects in all were supported through this call, which was co-funded by nine Indian and nine Swedish funding organisations for the Joint Programme. On March 13, 2023, a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) was formally approved, creating a cooperation between the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT), the Department of Science and Technology, and the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).This partnership aims to promote knowledge exchange and the advancement of research while strengthening collaboration and research ties between academic institutions in Sweden and India through the organisation of seminars, workshops, and conferences. Dr. Jitendra Singh also thanked Andreas Carlson, Minister of Infrastructure, Government of Sweden, for participating in the 10th annual India Sweden Innovation Day. Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that India is ready to strengthen the bilateral partnership, particularly in the area of science and technology, as well as to support our innovation ecosystem. The Minister went on to say that the success of our bilateral diplomatic relations has been a result of our shared values and dedication to fair trade and globalisation.I am really happy to observe that the area of India and Sweden’s bilateral relationship that is growing the fastest is innovation cooperation, he continued. Swedish ambassador to India Tanmaya Lal, Robin Sukhia, president of the Sweden-India Business Council, and Sanjoo Malhotra, CEO of India Unlimited also spoke at the event in addition to Hon. Jan Thesleff, the ambassador of India to Sweden.
