The
has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai, on research cooperation in nanotechnology, wireless technology, network communications and modelling of micro-fluidics.
The Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain attended the ceremony in Mumbai. He is leading a visit to India by representatives of 17 Northern Ireland businesses.
Hain said, ''Building strategic alliances at this time will help improve competitiveness and boost our skills base.”
Collaboration between higher educational institutions in Northern Ireland and India will be the key in helping both economies keep pace with the challenges of globalisation, he said. “This can only be of benefit to both our economies and societies.''
In addition to the IIT-Mumbai partnership, the University of Ulster has opened discussions with New Delhi's Jamia Milia University and Chennai University about future research collaborations.
Hain said that several Northern Ireland companies in engineering, software and other sectors are already engaged in successful business in India.
He added, “However, I believe that a great many more companies here could and should be seeking to grasp the tremendous opportunities now emerging in what has become the world's fastest growing free market economy.''
Poll: Should the UK’s railways be renationalised?
I think that a network inclusive of the vehicles on it would make sense. However it remains to be seen if there is any plan for it to be for the...