Delhi to get BioNanotechnology centre
Embracing the importance of nanotechnology recognising its significance for India's future and acknowledging the need to build capacity in this area. TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute of India) inked an MoU with Deakin University Australia to establish a new centre which will tackle some of the major issues confronting mankind — food and water security and health care.
The MoU was signed by the Deakin University Vice Chancellor Sally Walker and TERI's Executive Director Dr. Leena Srivastava in the presence of India's Minister for Education Mr.
Kapil Sibal and the Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard as part of Minister Sibal's diplomatic visit to Australia.
Dr. Aloka Adolheya currently director of TERI's Biotechnology and Bioresources Centre (BBC) and nominated Director of the new Centre, said that the partnership between the two organisations was particularly timely given TERI's origins — TERI was first established to solve an engineer's concern about the enormous quantities of energy his factory spent on desalination.
He added. "Our new BioNanotechnology Centre has great potential to make significant contributions to solving critical problems shared by India and Australia. It is imperative to adopt new emerging technologies to meet challenges like health care, water ami food security head-on."
To be located at one of
TERI's facilities close to the Indira Gandhi International Airport allowing easy access for international visitors, the Centre is envisaged to have approximately 70 researchers, including 50 PhD students enrolled at Deakin and co-supervised by Deakin and TERI staff. It will also be a hub for the Deakin
India Research Initiative (DIRI) launched earlier this year.
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