New MOU between ICSSR (India) and NWO (the Netherlands)

14 december 2006

On 24 November 2006, NWO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR). Two NWO divisions are involved: WOTRO and the the NWO Division of Social Sciences (MaGW). WOTRO and ICSSR were already counterparts through the joint coordination of IDPAD (Indo-Dutch Programme on Alternatives in Development).

The new collaboration is a spin-off of IDPAD, which has come to an end, and expresses the need to broaden social science cooperation and to include themes of general interest to the social sciences in both countries. The MOU was signed during the End symposium of IDPAD in the Hague by André Béteille (chair ICSSR), Rudy Andeweg (vice-chair MaGW) and Willem van Genugten (chair WOTRO) in the presence of Peter Nijkamp (chair NWO).

• The future research collaboration will work along four lines:
  Opportunities for individual researchers, to enhance scientific excellence
• A focus on the following thematic research areas, linking science to society:
• changing life courses
• science, technology and society (STS) 
• Global relationships
• poverty and inequality
• Bilateral cooperation as a stepping stone for multilateral research and networks, to consolidate strengths in both Europe and Asia
• The instruments will include Exchange of information between councils, workshops, seminars, conferences, joint research proposals and projects, and visits of scholars.

To facilitate the cooperation a Joint Advisory Committee of representatives from both organisations will be installed to develop a Memorandum of Agreement on mutual cooperation, with details for implementation. In 2007 further information will become available on the options for joint Indo-Dutch research.