India and Israel recently signed a $50 million academic research deal to jointly collaborate in the sciences, humanities, technology, arts and agriculture.
“Both sides perceive this program as one of the key components of the 20 years celebration of full diplomatic relations between the two countries,” said a statement issued by the Israeli Embassy in India.
The program was launched during a recent visit by HRD Minister Kapil Sibal to Israel, during which he met Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, Education Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Chairman of the Planning and Budgeting Committee Manuel Trajtenberg.
The India-Israel Joint Research Program was signed by India’s University Grants Commission and Israel Science Foundation.
“India is at the forefront of research activities worldwide and the collaboration between the two nations would contribute a lot to both the countries,” said Chairman of Israel Science Foundation, Prof. Benjamin Geiger.
Applications for funding will be called for in March next year with support reaching up to $100,000 per research project for a period of three years.