Scientific and technical cooperation

Russia and India are strategic partners in science and technology. 

The legal basis of the bilateral scientific and technical cooperation: 

• Intergovernmental Agreement on the scientific and technical cooperation dated June 30, 1994; 
• Joint Declaration on Strengthening and Enhancing Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of India and the Intergovernmental Protocol on the Protection and Use of Intellectual Property Rights, which is the legal basis for enhancing the process of commercialization and transfer of high technologies (2002); 
• Agreement on scientific cooperation and exchange of scientists between the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) and the Indian National Academy of Sciences (2003); 
• Protocol on Scientific Cooperation between the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India (2003). 

In order to search for new forms of commercialization of the results of joint scientific and technical research the Russian-Indian Scientific and Technological Center (RI STC) was created in Moscow in June 2010, as a structure for effective innovation interaction. In April 2012, the Indian branch of the Russian–Indian Science & Technology Center was officially opened in the Delhi-National Capital Region. 

The comprehensive Long-Term Program (LTP) of Science and Technology Cooperation between Russia and India for the period of up to 2020, which is unique in its scale and versatility, plays a crucial role in bilateral cooperation in the field of science and technology. Its main task is to enhance the role of applied research, boost interaction in the field of high technologies, implement fundamental and applied research in order to create new technologies, equipment and materials on their basis. 

The leading research centers of both countries (more than 70 institutes of Russia, over 50 institutes and laboratories of India) are involved in this work. The practical result of the LTP was the development of such form of cooperation as the conduct of complex joint research activities at Russian-Indian research centers. Currently in India there are joint centers for seismology (New Delhi), biotechnology (Allahabad), powder metallurgy and new materials (Hyderabad), production of polyvaccines (Bulandshahr), gas hydrates research (Chennai). Since the launch of the LTP, over 500 bilateral research and development projects in mathematics, mechanics, chemistry, physics, materials science, laser technology, electronics, oceanology, and seismology have received support. More than 1,500 joint publications were prepared, over 10 thousand scientific contacts were established, about 3 thousand exchange visits and over 100 joint seminars were conducted. 

A new mechanism in the field of scientific and technical cooperation appeared on June 21, 2017 after the creation of a Russian-Indian high-level committee on scientific and technical cooperation. The main areas of cooperation within the framework of this structure are nuclear industry, space and laser technology, cancer treatment, radiophotonics, deep-sea research, new production technologies, super-productive computer modeling, high-energy materials, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. It is also planned to develop scientific cooperation in the polar regions in the framework of joint climate and environmental projects. The possibility of creating a special bilateral center is being discussed. 

Russia and India share a long history of relations, but their potential is far from exhausted, especially in the field of science and technology. Thanks to the support of the governments of both countries, there are good prospects for bringing the scientific and technical cooperation to a new level, providing not only world leadership in modern industries, but also an improvement in the quality of life of people in both India and Russia.