As part of IISF 2020, the Overseas Science & Technology Ministers Conclave was organised that provided a platform for closely examining the priorities S&T and take stock of challenges faced by partner countries in finding ways and means to deal with the growing menace of COVID-19.
About 44 participants including ministers, diplomats, secretaries, and scientists came together to witness this one-day Conclave
The team led by Dr S.K. Varshney Scientist G & Advisor, Head, International Cooperation Division, Department of Science & Technology along with Dr Sulakshna Jain, Scientist E, DST, Dr NK Prasanna, Scientist and Editor, Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics, CSIR-NISCAIR, Dr Usha Singh, VIBHA, Shri Arun pandy, VIBHA as Coordinators took up the responsibility of conducting OMDC. With a focus on the unprecedented COVID19 pandemic that the world has witnessed, the ODMC had its theme, “R&D Strategy in Post COVID era” in two sessions on 23 December 2020. The conclave discussed the most promising S&T fields for comprehensive growth and development, overall cohesive S&T policies, and addressed the immediate as well as long term challenges and priorities concerning COVID19.
The OMDC was inaugurated by Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST and continued with the first session. In his welcome address, Dr Sharma highlighted major outstanding achievements of India on combating COVID-19 pandemic. The keynote speech of the first session was delivered by the Hon’ble Union Minister of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and Health & Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan. Stating that “Science and Technology break all barriers, Dr Harsh Vardhan welcomed the ministers from other countries (Afghanistan, Cambodia; Myanmar; Philippines, Uzbekistan) and dignitaries who participated in the ODMC 2020. Further, he recollected the great Indian philosophy “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – the world is as one family.
After the keynote lecture, ministers from other countries shared their perspective about the theme in their talk. Shri Abas Basir, Honorable Minister of Higher Education, Afghanistan; Shri Chhem Kieth Rethy, Minister Delegate Attached to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State, Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation, Cambodia; Shri Myo Thein Gyi, Honourable Minister of Education, Myanmar; Fortunato T De La Pe?a, Secretary (Minister) of Science and Technology, Philippines; Ms Seetha Arrambepola, Hounarable Minister, Minister of Skill Development, Vocational Education, Research Innovation, Sri Lanka; and Shri lbrokhim Yu Abdurakhmonov Minister of Innovative Development, Uzbekistan shared their experience of their respective countries in combating COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the R&D Strategies in Post COVID era.
In Session II, a panel discussion with the diplomats, Dr Jakob Williams, Counsellor for Innovation, Research, and Higher Education, Danish Embassy in New Delhi, H.E. Vincenzo de Luca, Ambassador of Italy to India, Dr Freek Jan Frerichs, counsellor-Innovation, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Delhi, Dr Indraneel Ghosh, senior Advisor, Education, Research and Innovation, Embassy of Switzerland, New Delhi. Prof Ivan Prostakov, Vice-Rector, Higher School of Economics. Moscow, Russia, and Dr Suvit Maesincee, (MHESI), Bangkok, Ambassador of Denmark to India, Freddy took part and shared their views.
Dr N.K. Prasanna, Scientist & Editor, Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics, CSIR-NISCAIR
