8th India–UK Science and Innovation Council (SIC) Meeting held

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, participated in the 8th India–UK Science and Innovation Council (SIC) Meeting with the Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds, UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, at New Delhi.

The meeting reviewed progress in bilateral science and innovation cooperation and explored opportunities to strengthen research partnerships, emerging technology collaboration and the translation of scientific research into practical applications.

The Indian delegation included Prof. Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India; Prof. Umesh Waghmare, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST); Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT); Dr. Srinivasa Kumar Tummala, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences; Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, Chief Executive Officer, Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF); and Dr. Rajesh Pathak, Secretary, Technology Development Board (TDB), along with other senior officials from the concerned departments and institutions.

The UK delegation was led by the Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Trade, and included Ms. Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India; Mr. Ben Mellor, Deputy High Commissioner to India; Ms. Amanda Brooks, Interim Permanent Secretary, Department for Business, Innovation and Trade; Mr. Harjinder Kang, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner; and Mr. Rhys Bowen, International Director, Department for Business, Innovation and Trade, along with other representatives of the UK’s science, research and innovation ecosystem.

On the occasion, Dr. Jitendra Singh and Jonathan Reynolds jointly inaugurated the BRIC-CDFD–ONT India Genomics Centre of Excellence. The inauguration was attended by Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology and Director General, Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC); Prof. Ullas Kolthur-Seetharam, Director, BRIC-CDFD; and Mr. Nick Keher, Chief Financial Officer, Oxford Nanopore Technologies..(UPDATED ON 12TH OCTOBER 2026)