India Global Forum: UK minister Lord Patrick Vallance said- India is an emerging player in science and technology

UK Research and Innovation and Science Minister Lord Patrick Vallance added that India is emerging as a force to be reckoned with in the sphere of science and technology and that Britain should further intensify its bilateral scientific and educational cooperation with India. He issued these remarks during a session of the 'Future Frontiers Forum' of the 'India Global Forum' that was organized at the Science Museum in London and had as its theme 'Empowering UK-India cooperation for a new innovation era'.

Lord Vallance said, "India and Britain already have strong relations, and it is constantly growing, but only government-level relations do not do everything, the real inspiration comes from dialogue and cooperation between scientists." He said the UK government wants to promote the movement of highly skilled professionals through the Global Talent Visa, and there is a need to leverage complementary capabilities with India in various sectors.

He also revealed that the UK government is soon going to release its new Industrial Strategy, which will set out priorities for future collaboration with India.

Lord Ara Dargie, known for his important review of the UK's National Health Service (NHS), praised India's "transformative health solutions" and said it is an "intellectual and manufacturing powerhouse" that the UK should partner with.

India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also participated in the forum and said that the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) offers multi-dimensional benefits in the field of science, technology and innovation.

He said, "An FTA sends a message to the whole world that both countries are friends, partners and are ready to work together with trust in each other." The forum also held a special session ‘Pitchers and Punters’, where emerging startups from India presented their ideas to a panel of international investors.