Scientific authorities of India and Argentina have signed exciting agreements on wide-ranging cooperation in the areas of nuclear energy, aerospace, nuclear medicine, satellite construction and biotechnology, among other specialties. During a Feb. 7-9 visit to India, the president of Argentina’s National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) Adriana Serquis and Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Daniel Filmus met with Indian colleagues, visited several of India’s leading scientific institutions, and met with External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to discuss the many areas in which they intend to cooperate. Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi, India’s Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, stressed to the group India’s interest in strengthening South-South cooperation.
In Mumbai, they visited the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), whose plant for radioisotope production was designed and built by Argentina’s renowned high-tech INVAP company and the CNEA for India’s Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology. The director of INVAP’s nuclear division, Tulio Calderon, who was part of the Argentine delegation, explained that the plant will allow India to become self-sufficient in molybdenum-99, the isotope most frequently used for cancer diagnosis. At the BARC, the Argentines also met with Kamlesh Nilkanth Vyas, Secretary of India’s Department of Atomic Energy.
Too numerous to mention here, meetings touched on all areas of potential cooperation. During the meeting Filmus had with India’s Science, Technology and Earth Sciences Minister Jitendrah Singh, the two issued a joint call for research projects in the areas of biotechnology and energy transition. This is the first time these countries will be working together to promote and finance research teams that will cooperate on strategic projects. In the area of biotechnology, Dr. Serquis said the idea was to develop a post-pandemic platform “to complete research in vaccines, potable water and food, among other matters.”
On behalf of Argentina’s National Space Activities Commission and the VENG aerospace company, Minister Filmus signed an agreement with the Indian firm Suhora Space Analytics, which will market the images from Argentina’s two SAOCOM ground observation satellites in India as well as in Asian and African markets.
Members of the Argentine delegation reported that the highlight of their trip was meeting Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, the granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, and president of the National Gandhi Museum. Dr. Serquis reported that the meeting with Ms. Gandhi “was very emotional and very moving to hear her recount memories of her grandfather and what it was like when she was told that he had been assassinated. I found it very interesting to learn about her perspective and thoughts about the need to have an education in peace.”
More details here https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/la-cnea-y-el-mincyt-afianzaron-en-india-los-lazos-de-cooperacion-en-temas-nucleares-y-de
