India and Canada have jointly launched ten initiatives worth USD 17 million in the Science and Technology segment as part of a deal signed between them in 2005.

All the projects are co-funded by the federal government’s International Science and Technology Partnerships Program.

Mr. David Emerson, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade made the declaration on Sunday in Toronto with Kapil Sibal, India’s Union Minister Of Science And Technology And Earth Sciences.

The statement said, “Our governments understand the need for establishing international research partners and the critical role played by Science and Technology in the new economy. These joint projects will enhance the collaboration between our scientists and commercialise their discoveries.”

Mr. Sibal said that out of the 10 joint initiatives, eight (8) are related to Agriculture, Environment, Food Processing, Health IT, energy, aeronautics and watershed management, and the remaining two are in the field of partnership-development activities.

Under the latter, the University of Toronto together with Tata Institute of Fundamental Research will take on projects of mutual benefits.

Mr. Sibal said that Canada India Foundation (CIF) will keenly involve in the partnership-development activities, and the main concentration will be to build up low-priced and reasonable technology, which will be advantageous to rural masses,.

India will be benefited by Canada’s excellence in different areas such as infrastructure, IT, Agriculture, Biotechnology and special technology in gaming activities, he said.

The minister met Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; key leaders of Indo-Canadian business and cultural organisations.