UK SCIENCE AND INNOVATION NETWORK

working globally for UK science and innovation

About Us
A recent visitor to India from Cambridge published an article on his return to the UK in which he described India as consolidating its place at the high table of international science. This quote very accurately describes India today as the emerging scientific superpower of the 21st century. The Science and Innovation Network, introduced in this short prospectus, is comprised of nine consultants who are passionate about this emerging India and about the opportunities that engaging with Indian science has to offer to its clients. There has never been a more exciting time for Indian science. The last 24 months have seen the successful launch of Indias first lunar probe and Indias first nuclear submarine. The Indian science budget is projected to triple during this planning period and the number of Indian Institutes of Technology is to be doubled. The Science and Innovation Networks clients are varied, both in size and in objectives; however, all share an interest in Indian science and recognise the benefit that their interaction with India brings to their organisation.

The future belongs to science and those who make friends with science.
- Jawaharlal Nehru
First Prime Minister of India

The Network helps government, research and innovation-oriented agencies, research institutes, higher education institutions and private organisations to engage optimally with Indian science.

The ultimate accolade: The UK has had over 70 Nobel prizes in scientific disciplines Eight of the worlds top 50 universities are in the UK In terms of research productivity, UK leads the G8 countires

Who We Are
We are the UK Science and Innovation Network operating in India, spread across three posts, with five consultants based in the British High Commission in New Delhi, three in the British Deputy High Commission in Bangalore and one in the British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai.

Our Priorities
The Science and Innovation Network in India is jointly and fully funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Although for some larger pieces of work, we may expect clients to share the expenses related to projects or initiatives, we do not charge for our services.
Our current priorities: Sustainable energy supply for example We work closely with UK partners in India. For example:
i. as we have an important client base within the main research funding organisations in the UK, we innovation in solar and nuclear power, fuel cells and off-grid power generation work closely with the Research Councils UK in India Food production and food security for (www.india.rcuk.ac.uk) example attenuating the impact of abiotic stresses ii. as we have an important client base within and innovative agricultural responses to the the higher education sector in the UK, we threats posed by climate change work closely with the British Council in India Water supply and security for example (www.britishcouncil.org/india); the impact of climate change on water resources iii. as we have an important client base within and responses to water scarcity knowledge-intensive businesses in the UK, Health and disease for example nondue to their important role as research communicable diseases and regenerative performers and research exploiters, we work medicine closely with UK Trade and Investment in India Impact of research for example on (www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/ukti/india) economic recovery and growth

What We Do
Our remit is to serve science interests across the whole of the UK government. We respond to emerging science and policy priorities and aim to facilitate new scientific partnerships and catalyse the early stages of new collaborations. We encourage, promote and facilitate R&D collaborations between academia, research establishments and businesses in the UK and their Indian partners. We gather information for our clients, we provide analysis, produce reports and run briefing sessions. We use interactive platforms such as seminars, workshops, conferences, sponsored visits and researcher exchanges to engage UK and Indian partners directly.

The Team

Christopher Darby leads the Science and Innovation Network in India and focuses mainly on governmental aspects of the UKs science relationship with India. His clients are predominantly government departments including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Chris has a significant career history in international science policy and his words can be found in many UK and EU publications on this subject in recent years. He has worked in a number of UK Government Departments and for the European Commission. Chris has an academic background in biochemistry/nutrition and was formerly Executive Secretary of a UK learned society.

Swati Saxena, the Senior Science and Innovation Adviser in Delhi provides a dedicated support to the UK stakeholders in establishing R&D linkages with India, particularly in research related to food production. She brings strong expertise in agricultural research to the role she took up eight years ago. Prior to joining the Science and Innovation India team, Swati actively engaged with Indian Government agencies and academics involved in agri-research while working as a regulatory officer for Monsanto, a US-based agricultural multinational firm. She was part of the core group that enabled commercialisation of Indias first genetically modified crop. By building long-term relationships across the government and academics with contacts ranging from the senior policymakers to high calibre scientists with a strong track record in their fields, Swati is wellplaced to act as a facilitator to build the technology linkages. Swati has an academic background in genetics.
Email: Swati.Saxena@fco.gov.uk Tel: +91-11-2419 2577

Rita Sharma is a Senior Science and Innovation Adviser based in Delhi and leads on Environmental Sciences. Her work ranges from brokering research collaborations between the UK and Indian researchers to assisting in utilisation of best available science to influence effective policy making. She also coordinates activities of the India Research Network, which brings together UK groups with interest in research and innnovation engagement with India. Rita has significant experience in working with international partners like China, India and Germany and has organised a number of international conferences, workshops, visit programmes and webinars in partnership with UK and Indian Government, academic and industrial bodies. Rita has her Bachelors in Botany, Masters in Anthropology and PhD in Cell Biology, apart from courses in computer programming and environmental sciences.
Email: Rita.Sharma@fco.gov.uk Tel: +91-11-2419 2479

Leena Arora Kukreja joined the UK Science and Innovation Network at the British High Commission in New Delhi in 2007. Prior to taking up this role, Leena used to work with Dabur Research Foundation. She is now working with partners across government like UK Trade & Investment and Research Councils UK Office in India to develop the networks work on innovation-focussed activities such as building and accessing Indias innovation capacity and identifying opportunities for UK-India collaboration. Leena has significant experience in working with international partners and has successfully organised a number of international conferences, workshops, visit programmes and bilateral meetings. She is wellplaced to act as a facilitator to build technology linkages. She has an academic background in Biotechnology and has also studied Business Administration and Marketing.
Email: Leena.Arora@fco.gov.uk Tel: +991-11-2419 2527

Email: Chris.Darby@fco.gov.uk Tel: +91-11-24192200

Kinchit Bihani works as Senior Adviser, Science and Innovation and splits his time between Delhi and Mumbai. He focuses on policy analysis, civil nuclear, ICT, engineering and innovation. His past work experience covers different industries including Engineering, Public Sector, E-commerce, global governance and climate change. Kinchit holds a BEng from Thapar University, India and an MPhil in Technology Policy from University of Cambridge, where he was a Commonwealth and Shell Scholar.

Rebecca Fairbairn joined the Science and Innovation Network in 2008 as Head of Science and Innovation in Bangalore. A social scientist by training (Universities of Edinburgh and Bristol), she has led on UK government initiatives covering a range of academic disciplines- from space science to biodesign, international relations to solar energy. She is now focused on raising the profile of the UK research base in India. Rebecca began her career with the UK Research Councils (the biggest public sector funder of research in the UK) where she was responsible for numerous research schemes and joint initiatives across government. She also led, for all seven UK Research Councils, on joint engagement with UK Parliamentary Select Committees. Rebecca came to India on a Research Councils UK project to develop the strategy of, and set up the operations for, the RCUK Office in India. Rebecca is also Deputy Head of Mission for the British Deputy High Commission in Bangalore.
Email: Rebecca.Fairbairn@fco.gov.uk Tel: +91-80-2210 0200

Sunil Kumar leads on developing research collaborations in Bioengineering, medical sciences, biopharma and space. He has varied interests ranging from aerospace, environmental sciences, media to lifesciences. He has a MSc in Environmental Science and diplomas in Environmental Law and Mass Communication. Sunil has a work experience of 15 years. He started his career working on ant diversity and behaviour at Indian Institute of Science. Later he worked on areas such as traditional conservation practices, protected areas and water pollution at the Centre for Environment Education. He also worked as a journalist at Deccan Herald writing on science and environment. Sunil has also worked on knowledge management with an IT company. Prior to joining the Science and Innovation Network, Sunil worked with UK Trade and Investment as a lead officer for the aerospace sector. Sunil has authored two books and more than 200 popular articles.
Email: Sunil.Kumar@fco.gov.uk Tel: +91-80-2210 0200

Shashi Kalyan handles Administration & Finance for the Science and Innovation team in India. Shashi has a BSc in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, and a Diploma in Business Management. Shashi has a work experience of 6 years. She started her career working with Just Dial Pvt. Ltd. Later she worked in Titan industries Ltd as an HR Assistant. Prior to joining the Science and Innovation Network, she worked in PepsiCo India holdings Pvt. Ltd as an Executive Secretary.

Email: Kinchit.Bihani@fco.gov.uk Tel: +91-11- 2419 2166

Email: Shahi.Kalyan@fco.gov.uk Tel: +91-80-2210 0200

Snippets of some of our work

Sheryl Anchan joined the Science and Innovation Network in 2006 and is based in the British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai. She is a Science and Innovation Adviser and works very closely with the senior adviser to support the networks work on life sciences. Sheryl has a significant experience in working with a range of stakeholders across government, academia, research and development institutions and industry in India and the UK. She is well-placed to facilitate linkages and build stronger ties between scientific communities in India and the UK within the life sciences sector. She also plays an important role in developing a marketing strategy for the Science and Innovation Network in India, which includes raising the profile of the network and its activities through various media including the website and the monthly Science and Innovation India newsletter. She has an academic background in Botany and Horticulture.
Email: Sheryl.Anchan@fco.gov.uk Tel: +91-22-6650 2205

UK and Indian science ministers agree to take partnership to new level The S&IN in India supported the UK Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts visit to India where he met with former Indian Science Minister, Prithviraj Chavan, to discuss the central role that science and research will play in the enhanced partnership between the two countries. They agreed that the two countries researchers would work more closely together in the future and also highlighted the important role that collaboration in science and research has to play in economic recovery and growth. Prince Charles wishes IIT Delhi a happy 50th Birthday Continuing S&INs celebration of the IIT-Delhis 50th Birthday, His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales attended a special reception at the British

High Commission in October. The foundation stone of IIT Delhi was laid by his father, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1959, so birthday wishes from the Prince of Wales were particularly fitting. Prince Charles met a number of IIT Delhi scientists who are working on major projects with UK universities in areas of environmental importance. He learned about the UK-India Science Bridge on biofuels, a partnership between the University of Aston and IIT Delhi and spoke to a long serving member of IIT faculty about the strong links between IIT Delhi and UK institutions. Prince Charles presented a renovated version of the British High Commission Trophy to the 2010 winners of the best IIT Hostel award. Collaboration in Changing Water Cycles S&IN India facilitated the joint working between UK and Indian Funders, the Natural Environment Research Council and the Ministry of Earth

Sciences respectively to commit funding up to 2.5 million each for joint research projects in the area of Changing Water Cycles. S&IN alongside the Research Council India Office, assisted the two funders at each stage of this cooperation. Through a totally joined up approach for call for outline bids, joint panel to shortlist projects, invitation for full bids, joint peer review process and final panel meeting, six projects have been selected for funding in globally relevant areas like climate change, water management etc. Maximising Impact of UK-India Collaborative Research The UK-India Impact Symposium was organised by S&IN in India jointly with Research Councils UK Office in India and the Indian Department of Science and Technology. The symposium brought together over 60 senior academics, policy makers, industry representatives, research funders and

investors from the UK and India to explore the benefits of UK-India collaborative research and the barriers to achieving these benefits. Discussions during the symposium showed how the full impact from research outcomes can: help drive economic growth; achieve social and development goals; and build trust and institutional relationships. Participants at the symposium welcomed the chance provided by the event format to think beyond disciplinary boundaries, and to forge new links with their counterparts. For more examples of our work and the many outcomes achieved by the S&IN team in India in 2010, visit: http://ukinindia.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/SIN/2011/sinhighlights2010

It is not difficult to give top marks for all categories: the S&I team did a superb job. As well as doing everything with skill and competence, they also knew how to maintain the balance between giving me instant trust, confidence and support on the one hand and being able to do what so few Indian hosts achieve, which is to back off some times and let one have air and space. The S&I team treated me like an intelligent and capable adult but knew where I might need help on the cultural differences. I give top marks and also express my gratitude.
Prof Robin Marshall, University of Manchester

British High Commission

Shantipath Chanakyapuri New Delhi 110 021 T: +91-11-2687 2161

British Deputy High Commission

Prestige Takt 23 Kasturba Road Cross Bangalore 560 001 T:+91-80-2210 0200

British Deputy High Commission

Naman Chambers, C-32, G-Block Bandra Kurla Complex Bandra (East) Mumbai 400 051 T:+91-22-6650 2203 www.ukinindia.fco.gov.uk