New Delhi, March 14:

India has already set up an implementation group for taking forward the pact signed with the US during the visit of president George W Bush for collaboration in industrial research and development.

“There is urgency for collaboration in industrial research and development as it would benefit both the countries. In the mid-1980s we did have such a collaboration, but it got murky due to the intellectual property rights (IPR) problems,” said R A Mashelkar, DG of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, “With India having made its laws compliant with the IPR rule under WTO, it has reopened new avenues for collaboration and generation of new industrial processes and technologies that can be exploited by both countries.”

Given the urgency to get started on the proposed collaboration as indicated in the joint US-India statement issued by both countries during Bush’s visit earlier this month, the science and technology ministry has set up a group to study the implementation of the pact, the senior scientist said.

The joint statement had announced plans for setting up a Bi-National Science and Technology Commission, which will be co-funded to ‘generate collaborative partnerships in science and technology and promote industrial research and development’.

To be appointed and serviced by the US department of state and the Indian government, the commission is to be co-chaired by senior leaders from each country.