The relationship between India and Canada, two diverse democracies, is characterized by shared political values and strong people-to-people ties. Recently, this relationship was reinforced with the renewal of two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) at the 7th India-Canada Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee (JSTCC) meeting. These MoUs were penned in collaboration with the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology and two major Canadian science institutions.
Momentous MoUs in Science and Technology
Reaffirming their commitment to enhancing scientific cooperation, the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology signed MoUs with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the National Research Council Canada (NRC). This took place under the umbrella of the 2005 Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation. The primary areas marked for collaboration include national missions, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and cyber-physical systems among others. Many Indian students studying in Canadian universities will find this beneficial.
The Biennial JSTCC Meeting Highlights
The agreement made in 2005 mandates that the JSTCC meet every two years to review ongoing collaborations and set priorities for the coming phase. Subjects like agriculture and food security, healthcare and healthtech, clean technologies and environmental research, marine and polar research, quantum tech and AI, and human capacity development are discussed. The latest meeting agreed on monitoring progress on key priorities in bilateral science, technology, and innovation projects (STIP) during 2022-2024.
Exploring India-Canada Cooperation across Domains
Both countries have robust political, economic, scientific, technological, space-related, as well as security and defensive ties. A significant number of Indians have been elected into the Canadian Parliament, reflecting the deep socio-political links. Economic ties are also flourishing, with bilateral trade around USD 5 billion. More than 400 Canadian companies operate in India, and 1,000 or so are actively courting the Indian market.
Collaboration in Science and Tech Sectors
The science and technology partnership focuses on promoting Industrial R&D with potential for application through new IP processes, prototypes, or products. Special programs like IC-IMPACTS facilitates joint research projects in healthcare, agri-biotech and waste management. The Department of Earth Science and Polar Canada have initiated a program for knowledge exchange and scientific research in Arctic Studies.
Involvement in Space Exploration
Since the 1990s, India and Canada have fostered cooperative ties in space exploration, earth observation, and satellite launch services. Several nanosatellites from Canada have been launched by Antrix, ISRO’s commercial arm. In 2018, ISRO launched Canada’s first LEO satellite from its spaceport Sriharikota.
Tightening Security and Defence Cooperation
The two nations collaborate closely through international bodies such as the UN, Commonwealth, and G-20. A statement of intent on cooperation between India’s DRDO and Canada’s Defence Research and Development Council was signed in 2015. This was further enhanced by the Framework for Cooperation on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism concluded in 2018.