New Delhi, May 19 (IANS). During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Norway, India and Norway signed five major agreements strengthening science and technology partnership. These agreements focus on areas such as green energy, sustainable development, marine technology, innovation and geoscience cooperation.
The objectives of these agreements are to strengthen institutional cooperation between the two countries, enhance industry and startup partnerships, promote academic cooperation and accelerate sustainable development projects.
One of the most important agreements was signed between DSIR/CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) and Research Council of Norway (RCN), under which cooperation in research, technology development, innovation and capacity building will be increased.
The agreement includes arrangements for joint workshops, research and development projects, exchange programs of scientists and cooperation on global issues such as climate change, clean energy, marine research and health services.
Additionally, CSIR also entered into a new collaboration agreement with SINTEF, Norway’s leading independent research institute, for 2026-2029.
The partnership will focus on circular economy and sustainability transition through joint research and innovation programs in areas such as bio-based materials, ocean energy, offshore wind, carbon capture, storage and waste management.
In another important agreement, several CSIR institutions entered into project based collaboration agreements on marine energy and offshore wind energy technologies with SINTEF institutions.
The collaboration includes CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre, CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography and CSIR-Fourth Paradigm Institute.
On the Norwegian side, SINTEF Ocean, SINTEF Digital, FME Northwind and SINTEF Community will be part of this partnership. The joint program aims to strengthen India’s offshore renewable energy capacity and support the country’s renewable energy and carbon neutrality goals.
Under this project, work will be done on floating offshore wind technology, reducing energy costs, sustainability standards, ESG framework, pilot projects, skill development and industrial development.
CSIR will provide funding assistance of approximately Rs 3.41 crore for this initiative.
Furthermore, a joint declaration titled “Science, Technology and Innovation Collaboration for Green Shift” was also signed. The agreement was signed between CSIR, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (ACSIR) and Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
In this manifesto, it has been said to increase cooperation in areas like sustainability, circular economy, ocean science and technology, healthcare and civil infrastructure engineering.
Under this, student and faculty exchanges, joint research activities, academic seminars and joint educational programs will also be organized.
–IANS
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