BANGALORE: The bilateral ties between United Kingdom and India were further strengthened when two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed in the presence of UK Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts on Wednesday.The agreements between National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) and University of Exeter aims at increased collaboration on archaeological projects, while Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and University of Oxford will focus on affordable healthcare and life science.The MoUs were signed in the backdrop of a workshop held in the city titled ‘Pioneering Metallurgy - The origins of Iron and Steel making in the Southern Indian Sub-continent’.Speaking to reporters, Willetts said: “We have chosen Bangalore for both the initiatives because of the city’s lively academic activities.We would like to see more research and more products emerging out of this relationship.” “There are some exciting research projects that are currently on in Bangalore. For instance, NIAS is researching on the history of metallurgy that dates back to ancient India. Also, IISc has been involved in water cycle projects. We are taking this relationship seriously,” added Willetts.The new agreements are a part of the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI). As on 2011, UKIERI has joint projects worth (Pound) 90 million, as compared to (Pound) 1 million in 2008. Commenting on the shortage of faculty, he said that it was the first challenge the partnership had to address.“The challenge is to train those who will train. There is a fast growth taking place, with new institutions coming up. India will have to create more teachers and UKIERI will help in this regard,” he said.Abdul Kalam ScholarshipsUK Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts also unveiled Queen’s University Belfast’s Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Scholarships for Indian engineering and science students worth $400,000. This scheme is open to 100 students who wish to enroll in PG programmes in engineering and science at Queen’s University in 2012.“There has always been a natural synergy between the two countries, especially in aerospace engineering. The scheme has been named after Dr Kalam as I consider him to be the father figure in Indian aerospace research,” said Prof Sir Peter Gregson. He added that Queen’s University was looking at common areas like IT, Secure Technology and Civil Engineering.
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