India, France sign two MoUs in field of education

French Minister of Higher Education and Research Valerie Pecresse, who met HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, also discussed the need to have more arrangements for cooperation in areas of nanotechnology, biotechnology, weather prediction, aerospace engineering and advanced mathematics.

During the deliberations, an MoU was signed for academic collaboration between Indian Institutes of Technology and Paris Institute of Science and Technology (ParisTech). The MoU will seek to promote joint research, student exchange and sharing information about developments in teaching between IITs and ParisTech.

"The MOU also provides that IITs and ParisTech may collaborate to participate in the European Commission initiatives by partnering with other interested institutions," said officials of the HRD Ministry.

The MoU will cover seven IITs in the country and about 10 institutes in France under ParisTech. A second MoU was also signed during the talks between the two leaders for setting up a research and training partnership structure in the form of a 'joint international laboratory'.

This lab will be called Cellule Franco-Indienne de Recherche en Sciences de l'Eau (CEFIRSE) or Indo-French Cell for Water Sciences (IFCWS). "The lab will strive to strike partnerships with research organisations in India, France and abroad," said an official statement.

Senior officials of France and India also discussed and finalised a draft MoU involving IIT-Rajasthan and a French consortium for academic and scientific collaboration in areas where France possesses considerable expertise.