Science & Technology
Science and Technology Agreement between Austria and India
In October 2008 the bilateral agreement between Austria and India on science and technology cooperation (S&T Agreement) entered into force, lifting the relations in this area between the two countries to new heights. On the basis of this S&T Agreement, the First Open Call for Proposals was launched in early 2010, and 13 joint Austro-Indian research projects have been awarded funding in late 2010.
MoU between Austrian Science Fund and Indian Department of Science&Technology
In October 2011, the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and the Department of Science&Technology (DST) at the Indian Ministry of Sciene signed a Memorandum of Understanding for intensified cooperation under the bilateral Science&Technology Agreement.
Henceforth, the FWF and the DST will offer regular Calls for Proposals for joint Austro-Indian basic research projects (substantive and mobility costs).
The first Call under this MoU is expected to be launched in 2012.
Cooperation between Austrian and Indian universities
A number of Austrian and Indian universities entertain partnership agreements which present a commitment to intensified academic exchange as well as mobility of students and researchers:
For a list of Austrian and Indian institutions that are members of the Eurasia Pacific Uninet, please check the website of the network.
Eurasia Pacific Uninet
The Eurasia Pacific Uninet is a network funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research, with a view to foster cooperation and joint scientific research between universities and research institutions in Austria and Asia.
Member institutions include universities in India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Among others, the Eurasia Pacific Uninet supports
- PhD students and post-docs of member institutions who undertake research in Austria;
- joint research projects of its member institutions through workshops, seminars and exchange of scientists.
Austro-Indian Cooperation in the field of conservation and museology
For many years, Austrian experts have worked with Indian counterparts to help preserve Indian cultural heritage.
For example, Prof. Ebba Koch from the Institute of Art History, University of Vienna, serves as architectural advisor to the Taj Mahal Conservation Collaborative. Prof. Helmut Tauscher from the Institute for South Asian Studies, University of Vienna, supports the preservation of Buddhist Thangkas in northern India. The culturally very significant Buddhist temple complex of Nako in the Western Himalayas has been restored by experts from the Institute of Conservation, University of Applied Arts Vienna, under the directorship of Prof. Gabriela Krist.
As of 2011, the Institute of Conservation, University of Applied Arts Vienna and the National Museum Institute New Delhi have started a programme for mutual exchange of experience and capacity building in the field of conservation and museology. The programme foresees, among others, a series of workshops for practitioners in Austria and India; exchange of students; the implementation of a case study project in India with the involvement of senior students; and common dissertation projects.
