UK, France vie for research collaboration with India

By Alya Mishra and Yojana Sharma. Britain and France announced a host of higher education and research joint ventures with India during high-level visits to the country last month led by British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President François Hollande. Both leaders were accompanied by their higher education and research ministers.
Cameron’s 18-20 February visit generated more excitement and media coverage in India than Hollande’s presence a week earlier, but experts felt that India was in a win-win situation in relations with both countries.
With a number of letters of intention and other agreements signed by their respective higher education ministers, Geneviève Fioraso and David Willetts, France and Britain announced several big-ticket collaborations.
A joint statement by India and France released on 14 February announced “an ambitious education plan, including twinning of higher education institutions, mutual recognition of degrees, research collaborations and training of teachers”.
The UK now boasts research collaborations with India valued at a total of £100 million (US$152 million) compared to £1 million just five years ago, it was revealed during Cameron’s visit. Read more...