India, Russia seal pact on space; vow health, nuclear, tech coop

India and Russia have strengthened their longstanding partnership with the signing of a comprehensive agreement covering cooperation in healthcare, medical education, space, science and environmental sectors.

Emphasising the importance of joint research in science, technology and innovation, the two sides called for deeper collaboration under the “Roadmap for Science, Technology & Innovation Cooperation”.

“They agreed to facilitate collaboration between government and private sectors to harness opportunities for startups and SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in both countries to address societal challenges through innovative technologies, including joint R&D and co-development of technologies. They confirmed their interest in further developing cooperation in digital technologies, including those related to information protection, security of critical infrastructure and law enforcement. Both sides agreed to design and implement soft support programmes for startups to enable knowledge exchange, capacity-building and greater engagement of innovators and entrepreneurs,” a joint statement released after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded their annual leaders’ summit here said.

Recognising the extensive experience of collaboration between India and Russia in science and higher education, both sides expressed interest in deepening partnerships between educational and research institutions, including academic mobility, joint educational programmes, research projects and specialised international exhibitions, conferences and seminars.

The countries welcomed the expanded partnership between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Russia’s Roscosmos in the peaceful use of outer space, including human spaceflight programmes, satellite navigation and planetary exploration.

“The sides confirmed their intention to broaden cooperation in nuclear energy, including the fuel cycle, life cycle support for the operating Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) and non-power applications. They also agreed to develop a new agenda for cooperation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy and related high technologies. The sides noted the importance of nuclear cooperation as a significant component of the strategic partnership, given India’s plans to increase its nuclear energy capacity to 100 GW by 2047,” the statement said.

Russia and India also reaffirmed their commitment to conserve and protect rare and endangered species, particularly migratory birds. The two countries agreed to mobilise greater access to climate finance and technologies for developing countries and economies in transition.

“Both sides welcomed the adoption of the framework agreement by the Russian side to join the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA). The Indian side looked forward to Russia’s early joining of the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI),” the statement added.

The two countries agreed to continue developing joint approaches to global economic challenges, enhancing access to climate finance and technologies for developing economies and pushing for reasonable reforms in international economic governance institutions, particularly multilateral development banks.

The agreement on health and food safety seeks to advance cooperation between India and Russia in healthcare, medical education and medical sciences. Another pact aims to enhance cooperation between India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Russia’s Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing in the field of food safety.