Touching New Heights Editor’S Note
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ENSEMBLEENSEMBLE Volume 4 (1) | January – February 2016 Newsletter of the Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research India-France Relations Touching New Heights editor’s note Dear Readers, India and France are witnessing the emergence of a new era of collaborative efforts between the two countries in various sectors. In November/December 2015, France hosted a successful global scale diplomatic event for adopting an agreement by many countries on climate change where India was also an active participant. After the visit of Honourable Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi to France in April 2015, the French President H. E. Dr. Mukesh Kumar Mr. François Hollande visited India in January, 2016 as a Chief Guest on the Director, CEFIPRA occasion of 67th Republic Day of India. During his visit, Indian and French scientific as well as technological communities from academia and industry sectors, joined hands through several Agreements/MoUs signed by the two countries. CEFIPRA had the privilege of hosting the officials / signatories of three of such Agreements/MoU signed on 25 January 2016. CEFIPRA, since its evolution as a unique institutional platform and collaborative mechanism, is contributing through its various interventions in a diverse range of S&T domains. These collaborative efforts are making it possible to generate significant knowledge that has a potential to translate discovery science into solution science. I sincerely wish that all these MoUs will create new pathways to further strengthen the Indo-French collaborative research efforts. inside Editor-in-Chief Dr. Mukesh Kumar ii | editor’s note GD Birla Award x | Director, CEFIPRA Dr. Sanjeev Galande1 leader Editorial Consultant seminars / workshops State Visit of H.E. Mr. François Hollande, Manoj Dabas iii | President of the Republic of France, to India Smart Systems and Structural Health xi | Content Manager Strengthening Bonds Monitoring (SHM) for Structures Tarun Ghawana under Harsh Environments Layout Design and DTP Nanoscaled Systems for Pramod Jha feature xii | Rahul Nautiyal Energy Harvesting vii | From Scientific Discovery Science to Solutions Oriented Science Design, Production and Circulation Communication & Outreach Division update AFE Consultants Private Limited xiii | Aravali House, 431/D-22, Chhatarpur Hills report Mobility of Scientists / Researchers New Delhi-110074, India Debriefing Session of ix | Published and Printed by : Raman-Charpak Fellows-2014 CEFIPRA Taking Stock 5B, India Habitat Centre Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003 Photo Courtesy: Website of Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India INDIA ii leader State Visit of H.E. Mr. François Hollande, President of the Republic of France, to India Strengthening Bonds rench President H.E. Mr. François Hollande paid INDIA-FRANCE JOINT Statement1,2 a State Visit to India between 24th – 26th January, During this visit, both leaders issued a Joint Statement F2016. This was President Hollande’s second State focusing on various aspects of Strategic Partnership, Visit to India. His first visit was in February, 2013. Clean and Sustainable Development, Economic President Hollande was the Chief Guest at India’s 67th Co-operation, People-to-People Contacts, Education, Republic Day celebrations. This was the fifth time when Skill Development, Science & Technology, Culture etc. a French Head of State or Government has been invited Highlights of Joint Statement particularly on People-to- as the Chief Guest on India’s Republic Day celebrations, People Contacts, Education, Skill development, Science making France the country that has been extended this & Technology are as follows: honour for the highest number of times so far. • The Leaders expressed satisfaction that the The visit took place almost nine months after Hon’ble Volontariat International en Entreprises (VIE) Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s successful visit Scheme, announced in April 2015 to facilitate to France in April, 2015. It was built upon the close internships and professional experience for students interactions that had ensued between the two leaders at and young professionals in both countries, had the G20 meeting in November 2014 in Brisbane. Later, been successfully implemented. They expressed during the UN General Assembly in September, 2015 and satisfaction with the Government of India’s decision at the COP-21 in November, 2015 at Paris, they shared to increase the number of young professional commitment to intensify and strengthen the close and long beneficiaries of the French VIE programme in India standing strategic partnership between India and France1,2. Ensemble | January – February 2016 iii leader from 50 to 250 per year for a maximum period of (IISER) Pune and the Ecole Normale Supérieure stay of 2 years and with the Government of France’s de Lyon to contribute to the development of decision to grant an extended stay of 2 years to activities of training and research. students of masters level and above in France. The 3. The Agreement signed between the Indian two Leaders called upon students of both countries Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B), to derive full advantage of this facilitation to enhance Mumbai and French CNRS/Telecom Bretagne/ their educational and professional experience. Université de Bretagne occidentale/Université de • Recognizing the commitments made in the Bretagne Sud/ENSTA Bretagne/ENI Bretagne to Indo-French statements issued in February 2013 promote academic and scientific exchanges and and in April 2015 concerning the negotiations of collaboration in areas of interest and benefit to a bilateral partnership agreement on migration and all institutions. mobility, the Leaders affirmed their commitment to 4. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for pursue their discussions on this agreement with a sponsored Ph.D. Fellowships signed between view to conclude them as soon as possible. Thales and Indian Institute of Technology- • In the field of higher education in which hundreds of Bombay (IIT-B), Mumbai agreements between French and Indian institutions • Recognizing that skill development was a key have already been signed, the two Leaders priority, both Leaders welcomed the important role welcomed: played by French companies in India in training and 1. Arrangement for the Establishment of an skilling the Indian workforce and encouraged them Indo-French Joint Committee on Science to engage even more actively in the sector. and Technology Cooperation between the • They also welcomed partnership between the French Government of the French Republic and the CNCP and the National Skill Development Agency Government of the Republic of India. of India focusing on Qualifications Register under 2. The Agreement signed between the Indian the framework of the MoU on cooperation signed Institute of Science Education and Research, between India and France. iv Ensemble | January – February 2016 leader • The Leaders recognized with satisfaction, the scientific agencies and industries, both in France role played by CEFIPRA over the last 28 years and India. in promoting collaboration between the scientific The Leaders expressed their satisfaction on the progress communities of the two countries across the achieved between the Indian and French partners knowledge innovation chain. They encouraged involved in setting up the future Institute of Marine CEFIPRA to expand its role by implementing Biology and Biotechnology. bilateral programmes in partnership with various Reception at Embassy of France in New Delhi by French President, H.E. Mr. François Hollande President of the French Republic H. E. Mr. François Hollande hosted a reception on 26th January, 2016 at the Embassy of France in New Delhi, in honour of the French Community on the occasion of his state visit to India. The reception was organized to enable interactions between various dignitaries from Indian and French community with the President of France. The reception was attended by hundreds of dignitaries from India and France belonging to all walks of life. Director, CEFIPRA was also one of the invited guests. At this occasion, the president reiterated the importance of close relationship between France and India and expressed his commitment to address global challenges in close cooperation with India. References 1. India-France Joint Statement; Website: http://www.ambafrance-in.org/India-France-Joint-Statement-13533 2. India-France Joint Statement on the occasion of the State Visit of President Francois Hollande of the French Republic to India (January 25. 2016); Website: http://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/26297/IndiaFrance+Joint+Statement+on+the+occasion+of+the+State+Visit+of+Pre sident+Francois+Hollande+of+the+French+Republic+to+India+January+25+2016 Discussion on Three Indo-French S&T Agreements / MoU CEFIPRA OFFICE | 25TH JANUARY 2016 CEFIPRA had a privilege of hosting a ceremony at its premises on 25th January, 2016 for discussions on three Agreements / MoU signed between the Indian and • Prof. Devang V. Khakhar, Director, IIT-Bombay, Mumbai French academic/research institutions and industries: • Mr Antoine Caput, VP & Country Director, Thales India The discussion was focussed on Agreements/MoU signed in various sectors of higher education, research, • Mr. Suren Chander, HR Senior Manager, Thales India mobility of students and personnel, workshops/ • Mr. Jean Chazelas, Thales DMS conferences/summer schools and way forward. The • Mr. Patrick Nedellec, Director DERCI, CNRS event was attended by : • Dr. Srini Kaveri,