The recently signed S&T Agreement between India and the United States is expected to provide a fillip to S&T cooperation and expand relations between the S&T communities of both countries. The Agreement visualized cooperation in areas such as basic sciences, space, energy, nanotechnology, health and IT.

The Agreement also establishes IPR protocols and other provisions necessary to conduct active collaborative research. India and the U.S. have also agreed to enhance joint activities in space cooperation including in-space navigation and in the commercial space arena.

There is a U.S. – India Joint Working Group on Civil Space Cooperation that discusses joint activities. Its next meeting is scheduled in Washington D.C. end- February 2007. The Indian Chandrayaan – 1 mission to the moon in 2008 will launch two U.S. instruments.

During the visit to India of President Bush, the leaders of the two countries announced the establishment of a Bi-National Science and Technology Commission that will be co-funded by the two governments. Its aim is to generate collaborative partnerships in S&T and promote industrial research and development.

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This initiative emphasizes the importance the two countries place on knowledge partnerships. Despite the bulk of the sanctions on Indian entities and organizations having been removed over the past few years, Indian scientists working in cutting edge technologies and areas continue to find it difficult to obtain visas to the United States. India has brought this to the attention of the U.S. authorities.

An interesting aspect of S&T cooperation between India and the United States is the expanding direct exchanges between U.S. and Indian Universities. Increasingly, the major U.S. Universities have been exploring direct contacts with India and several University Presidents have visited India.