The BRICS has endorsed India's Young Scientists Forum Initiative and decided to make it a part of its Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) work plan for the period 2015-18.
Speaking at the meeting of Science and Technology Ministers of BRICS nations, Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan expressed happiness over this decision and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared India's strong commitment to the strengthening of cooperation within BRICS in the sphere of STI.
He also said the institutional framework established in the form of a BRICS Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Science, Technology, and Innovation at the meeting will act as an enabling vehicle to take cooperation forward.
Apprising the delegates attending the meeting about various measures being taken by the Indian Government for development of skills among youth, Vardhan informed them about various steps for the promotion of innovation through allocations made in the this year's annual budget for the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM).
He said the Atal Innovation Mission will be an innovation promotion platform involving academics, entrepreneurs, and researchers to foster a culture of innovation, research and development, and scientific research in India.
The Indian delegation at the meeting also proposed establishment of a BRICS technology foresight for climate system to address scientific and innovative solutions for climate change and natural disaster management while identifying viable research and development initiatives for the future.
