EC/India Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation

PURPOSE : to conclude an Agreement for scientific and technological co-operation between the EC and India. CONTENT : the draft Agreement, to be concluded for tacitly renewable five year periods, was negotiated against the background of an upgraded and intensifying co-operation between India and the European Union, considering the importance of science and technology for economic and social development and the mutual wish to extend and strengthen the conduct of co-operative activities in areas of common interest. The draft Agreement is based on the principles of mutual benefit, reciprocal opportunities for access to each other's programmes and activities relevant to the purpose of the draft Agreement, non-discrimination, and the effective protection of intellectual property and equitable sharing of intellectual property rights. Co-operation shall be conducted subject to applicable laws and regulations in force on each side. The draft Agreement provides for : - the participation of persons and legal entities, including the Parties themselves, universities, research institutions, and other bodies or undertakings, in each other's research projects; - pooling of RTD projects already implemented according to the procedures applicable in the RTD programmes of each Party; - exchange and sharing of equipment and materials; - exchange and provision of information and data; - visits and exchanges of scientists, engineers or other appropriate personnel for the purposes of participating in meetings, seminars, symposia, workshops and other research activities relevant to co-operation under this Agreement; - exchange of information on practices, laws, regulations and programmes relevant to co-operation under the Agreement; - such other activities as may be mutually determined by the Steering Committee in accordance with the applicable policies and programmes of the Parties; - the endorsement by the Parties of Technology Management Plans as a condition for research projects to proceed, as described in the Annex to the draft Agreement; - co-operation activities to be subject to the availability of funds and to the applicable laws and regulations, policies and programmes of India and the Community; no transfer of funds will take place. The principle of non-discrimination agreed under Article 3 should protect Community participants in Indian programmes and activities against any discriminatory treatment, also in respect of the dissemination and utilisation of results, including intellectual property rights. The Steering Committee shall, inter alia, review the efficient and effective functioning of the Agreement, including the non-discriminatory treatment of participants.�