India, Canada ink Letter of Intent to collaborate on research exchanges

India and Canada have inked a Letter of Intent (LOI) to collaborate on research exchanges to increase student mobility between the two countries.

The agreement was formalised by Mitacs CEO Arvind Gupta and Additional Secretary Amita Sharma, representing the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

"This LOI represents the start of a long and fruitful collaboration which will see exceptional students travelling between our two countries to promote research, share perspectives and build joint R and D capacity," said Dr. Gupta.

Launched in 2008, the Mitacs Globalink program has brought top international undergraduate students to Canada for summer research internships.

In the first six years of the program, over 800 students have come to Canada.

On January 15, 2014, the Government of Canada announced USD 13 million in funding for Mitacs in its International Education Strategy, enabling Mitacs to launch new initiatives to provide research and training opportunities for Canadian students in Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Turkey and Vietnam.