India and Canada Partner to Create Infrastructure and Water Solutions

October 15, 2014 – Delhi, India

IC-IMPACTS Centres of Excellence is delighted to announce that it has partnered with the Department of Science and Technology (DST) of India to fund innovative infrastructure and water-related research.

IC-IMPACTS and DST will soon be launching a joint Call for Proposals to support collaborative research projects focused on developing and evaluating new technologies in infrastructure and water-related areas. By funding collaborative research projects, research experts, industry leaders, and community members from both Canada and India will come together to form practical solutions to greatly improve the health of citizens in both nations.

Canada and India both face growing water concerns. Over 5 million people do not have access to a reliable source of clean drinking water in Canada, while 37.7 million people in India are affected by drinking water regularly contaminated with water-borne diseases. Innovative solutions that will help provide clean sources of water will vastly improve the livelihood of Canadian and Indian people.

Both nations also face critical infrastructure challenges. Canada has currently accumulated a $123 billion infrastructure deficit by repairing, maintaining, and replacing aging infrastructure. Meanwhile, India has made infrastructure a top priority, pledging to invest $1 trillion in infrastructure over the next five years. Since infrastructure is the heart of both nations, unique solutions that will reduce cost and increase durability of infrastructure will significantly improve communities.

The IC-IMPACTS and DST partnership will help build healthier communities in both nations by strengthening the overall research and innovation relationship between Canada and India. “We are excited and grateful for this wonderful partnership, says Nemy Banthia,” CEO and Scientific Director of IC-IMPACTS. We hope that this initiative will help bring much needed solutions to millions of citizens across Canada and India.”

The partnership between IC-IMPACTS and DST was formally agreed upon in Delhi, India in the presence of The Honourable Ed Fast, Canadian Minister of International Trade and Jintendra Singh, Indian Minister of Science and Technology.

“The possibilities of research collaboration between Canada and India are limitless, as are the benefits for Canadians and Indians alike,” says Ed Fast. “Pure research drives the economy of the future through the discoveries of new technology and new products that improve the lives of us all.”

About Department of Science and Technology, Government of India

The Department of Science & Technology (DST) was established with the objective of promoting new areas of Science & Technology and to play the role of a nodal department for organizing, coordinating and promoting S&T activities in India. The department is mandated to formulate policy statements and guidelines and to support basic and applied research in national institutions.
More information: http://www.dst.gov.in/

About IC-IMPACTS Centres of Excellence

IC-IMPACTS (the India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnerships to Accelerate Community Transformation and Sustainability) is the first Canada-India Research Centre of Excellence established through the Canadian Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE).

IC-IMPACTS is a pan-Canadian Centre that brings together a large international team of researchers, industry innovators, community leaders, government agencies, and community organizations from India and Canada, to find solutions to the key challenges that affect the quality of life of millions of people in Indian and Canadian communities.

The Centre’s partner-community strategy supports rapid mobilization of new solutions to improve water quality, increase the safety and sustainability of critical civil infrastructure, and improve health across both nations.

More information: https://ic-impacts.com