Science and Technology one of the important tools besides culture, sports that brings communities together: Head, International Cooperation Division, DST, GoI

Jul 29, 2021

NEW DELHI, 29 July 2021: Mr SK Varshney, Head-International Cooperation Division, DST, Govt of India yesterday said that science and technology is very important just like culture & sports which brings communities together. "Our programme in ASEAN countries is quite vibrant and we would like the outcome of these programmes to become so loud and clear that everyone should see how science and technology could make an impact."

Addressing the virtual roadshow for the promotion of ASEAN India Research Training Fellowship Scheme and ASEAN India Innovation Platform, organized by FICCI, jointly with the Department of Science & Technology (DST), GoI, Dr Ambrosio B.Cultura II, University System President, University of Science and Technology Southern Philippines said, "The growing culture of doing research & innovation is greatly helpful for increasing the capacity and expertise of the faculty members." He further added that he would be willing to promote the research & innovation programme via motivating all the young ASEAN researchers to apply for the AIRTF programme.

Mr Angelo Walag, AIRTF fellow shared his experiences and benefits from the AIRTF fellowship. He also lauded Prof Kharwar (Indian supervisor at BHU), DST and FICCI for the opportunity via AIRTF fellowship programme to enhance his research skills with other researchers. As a result of the exposure and publications, he recently got awarded under the Research Productivity Award 2020.

Prof Ravindra Kharwar, BHU appreciated FICCI and DST for the AIRTF fellowship programme. He said that this programme should be promoted more to all the Indian and ASEAN institutes for benefiting the young ASEAN researchers. It will also create a good relation amongst India & ASEAN member states."

The roadshow was organized exclusively for the research community of Philippines and especially the partner university to sensitize them about the two flagship initiatives of Govt. of India for India ASEAN science and technology partnership.

ASEAN India Research Training Fellowship (AIRTF) scheme aims at supporting ASEAN young researchers to work at any of the Indian research/academic Institution. This prestigious DST fellowship with FICCI as its implementation partner aims at capacity building of young researchers of ASEAN Member States in science and technology and further strengthens the bond between India and ASEAN Member States. This fully funded fellowship is for a period of 2-6 months. In 2018-20, a total of 127 fellowships have been awarded to young fellows from 8 of 10 ASEAN MS.  

ASEAN India Innovation Platform (AIIP) is a unique online technology platform that hosts innovative technologies from India and ASEAN MS. The platform aims at supporting young entrepreneurs and startups from both India and Philippines to form collaboration with each other for technology transfer and commercialization. AIIP encourages inter regional innovation led collaboration for better solutions to common issues. The platform currently has more than 350 Indian technologies and solicits similar technologies from Philippines.

Call for application under ASEAN India Research Training Fellowship is open till 30^th September 2021. For applying: https://aistic.gov.in/ASEAN/aistdfFellowship