Value of research facilitated by RCUK India tops £100 million as the two Prime Ministers endorse new joint ventures

The value of joint research facilitated by Research Councils UK (RCUK) India since 2008 has topped £100 million, as was highlighted during the meeting of the UK and Indian Prime Ministers, David Cameron and Manmohan Singh, in India this week.

The most recent addition to this joint research portfolio is an initiative in Crop Genomics, which will aim to address the global challenge of food security by using genomic approaches to improve the characteristics of crops of global importance. Joint funding of up to £10 million has been committed by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

Other ongoing collaborations that highlight the advancement of the UK-India research partnership include:

• Smart energy grids and energy storage – the RCUK Energy programme has committed up to £5 million with matched resources from India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) on collaborative research projects, with awards due to be announced in April 2013.

• Advanced manufacturing – the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and DST have committed up to £3 million each on collaborative research programmes, with awards due to be announced in April 2013.

• Sustainable bioenergy and biofuels – a joint commitment of up to £10 million by BBSRC and DBT, with successful awards due to be announced in June 2013.

• Farmed animal disease and health – a commitment of up to £10 million of joint funding from BBSRC and DBT, with successful awards being announced in September 2013.

• Social sciences research networking – India’s first multilateral social sciences research collaboration, in partnership with the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and counterpart social science research funders from France, Germany and the Netherlands.

• Arts and humanities international placements – short-term placements in India’s Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) Sarai programme funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Programme (AHRC).

David Willetts, Minister of State for Universities and Science, accompanied the Prime Minister with representatives from leading UK universities, colleges and institutions, and met with RCUK India staff and counterparts in India to discuss how to deepen these links even further.

He said: “This impressive range of announcements makes clear the breadth and strength of the UK and India’s education and research links. Both countries can benefit immensely from sharing expertise and resources in this way – boosting education, research and business."

Professor Paul Boyle, RCUK’s International Champion, added: “I am thrilled to note the progress that we at Research Councils UK have made with our partners in India. We are particularly proud to be partners in our attempts to address key global challenges that range from food security, climate change, energy, health and economic and social research."

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Notes to editors

1. Further details are available in the BIS announcement.

2. RCUK India was established in 2008 with an aim to bring about a step change in research partnerships between the two countries and make it easier for the best researchers in the UK and India to develop high-quality, high impact research partnerships. Since its launch RCUK India has facilitated joint research collaboration between the UK, India and third parties to the value of over £100 million compared with £1 million in 2008. Further information is available at www.rcuk.ac.uk/india

3. Smart Energy Grids and Energy Storage
   Having an energy infrastructure that is fit for purpose is of fundamental importance to both the UK's and India’s low carbon future. As both countries move forward the use of low carbon energy generation is likely to increase. This will result in significant differences in the supply and demand patterns and will therefore present challenges to the energy system. Given these strong alignments, the RCUK Energy programme and DST have committed to work together, facilitated by RCUK India and the Science and Innovation Network, India. Both RCUK and DST play a pivotal role in promotion of science and engineering in their respective countries. This will be the fourth area of energy collaboration between the two partners. See www.rcuk.ac.uk/energy and www.dst.gov.in

4. Advanced Manufacturing
   Manufacturing is a top priority in both the UK and Indian plans for economic growth. In 2011, India launched a National Manufacturing Policy that aims to increase manufacturing activity from a current 16 per cent GDP to 25 per cent by 2022. This equates to a growth rate of 12-14 per cent per year, and aims to generate 100 million new jobs. The UK’s coalition government has also placed manufacturing at the heart of the economic recovery, and has published a series of policy announcements and reviews on the subject. Seewww.epsrc.ac.uk/manufacturing and www.dst.gov.in

5. Bioenergy, animal health and crop genomics
   BBSRC and DBT are working on the following three areas of mutual national importance:

   Sustainable bioenergy and biofuels
   Research towards the development and implementation of advanced (second generation and beyond) sustainable bioenergy and liquid biofuels is of global importance. BBSRC and DBT recognise that each organisation has made significant investments in sustainable bioenergy research; moreover each organisation wishes to further strengthen and diversify their bioenergy portfolios.

   Farmed animal disease and health
   Endemic and exotic diseases of farmed animals have significant global impact in terms of high economic costs and animal welfare, and reducing this impact is of major importance. In addition, emerging pathogens are increasingly recognised as a threat to biosecurity, public health and food security. BBSRC and DBT recognise that each organisation has made significant investments in livestock disease and health research; and each organisation wishes to strengthen and diversify their portfolios by combining the research strengths of two countries. Also see www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/opportunities/2013/farmed-animal-disease-health.aspx

   Crop genomics
   Through this initiative, BBSRC and DBT wish to address the growing global concern of food security through facilitating research on improving the characteristics of crops of global importance. A UK-India workshop was held in Norwich, UK in May 2012, which brought together crop genomics experts from both countries who explored areas of mutual interest and priority for further research. As a result, both BBSRC and DBT are in discussions to announce a joint call for proposals in March 2013.

6. Indian-European Social Sciences Research Networking
   The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) in association with ESRC, the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) have launched the first set of projects for networking and social science research cooperation between researchers in India and the four European countries. Six projects are agreed for funding over a period of three years.

7. AHRC-Sarai placements
   5 UK-based early career arts and humanities researchers were awarded funding the AHRC’s International Placement Scheme.

8. Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils who annually invest around £3 billion in research. We support excellent research, as judged by peer review, that has an impact on the growth, prosperity and wellbeing of the UK. To maintain the UK’s global research position we offer a diverse range of funding opportunities, foster international collaborations and provide access to the best facilities and infrastructure around the world. We also support the training and career development of researchers and work with them to inspire young people and engage the wider public with research. To maximise the impact of research on economic growth and societal wellbeing we work in partnership with other research funders including the Technology Strategy Board, the UK Higher Education funding bodies, business, government, and charitable organisations. www.rcuk.ac.uk.

   The seven UK Research Councils are:

   • Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
   • Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
   • Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
   • Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
   • Medical Research Council (MRC);
   • Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
   • Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC).