Increased bilateral R&D cooperation - India and Norway

Norway and India signed an agreement for increased bilateral co-operation in the areas of science and technology in November 2006. To follow up on that agreement a Norwegian delegation visited India from the 11th -15th of June. NGI was represented in the delegation.

The Norwegian Minister of Education and Research, Øystein Djupedal, showed interest in the workings of soil and rock testing equipment in the laboratory, explained by Suzanne Lacasse and Rajinder Bhasin (behind)

The Indian Minister of Science and technology, Mr. Kapil Sibal visited Norway when the agreement for co-operation in the areas of science and technology was signed. During the visit Mr. Sibal also came to NGI. For the Norwegian follow-up visit in June 2007, NGI was asked to be represented in the Norwegian delegation. Managing Director, Dr. Suzanne Lacasse and Dr. Rajinder Bhasin represented NGI.

Dr. Lacasse has been appointed as an official member of the Norwegian joint working group which will prioritise areas of co-operation in science and technology between India and Norway. The Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) in India is keen to develop an Indian Geotechnical Facility with assistance from NGI. NGI is in contact with both MST and the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research for the setting up this facility in India.

The Norwegian delegation expressed interest in the area of geotechnology which is helping in the infrastructure development of India as the Indian economy expands. Besides visiting other institutes such as the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi, Djupedal visited NGI¿s institutional co-operation partner ¿Central Soil and Materials Research Station¿ in New Delhi with whom NGI has been co-operating since the 1980s. Djupedal showed interest in the workings of soil and rock testing equipment in the laboratory.