European-Indian collaboration launched

9 September 2010

First awards New INDIGO announced.

Dutch research groups will start to collaborate in September with Indian and European researchers. The teams have received a network grant from the EU programme New INDIGO. That is an acronym for Initiative for the Development and Integration of Indian and European Research. The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) coordinates the international secretariat.

The first round within New INDIGO was a trial in the area of biotechnology and health. A total of 47 international teams submitted a proposal. Thirteen teams received a grant, five of which have Dutch input. Within each team there are at least two European groups and one Indian research group collaborating. Each group within a team receives a grant of maximum 50,000 euro. This can be used to build up qualitatively strong research networks. In practice this means that the money can be used for exchange visits, workshops and conferences.

Until the end of 2012, New INDIGO will examine possibilities for further rounds. On top of this it will undertake efforts to connect the Indian and European research fields, for example by mapping the respective grassroots support, connecting current programmes and establishing links with European and international initiatives.

Below you will find an overview of the partnerships in which the Netherlands is participating. Click here for the complete list of projects awarded. The projects will start in September 2010. Further information can be found at: http://www.newindigo.eu.

International collaboration

Structural collaboration between India and Europe is still in its infancy, although growing R&D budgets in countries such as China, India and Brazil are already exerting a noticeable influence on global knowledge development. In the coming years, NWO will step up its efforts to offer possibilities for international collaboration and to strengthen the role of Dutch research in problems of a global scale. The multilateral collaboration between Europe and India emerges from the ERA vision 2020 that provides for a European Research Area (ERA) in which the free movement of researchers and research resources is possible.

About NWO

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) is the principal Dutch science funding body and its mission is to facilitate excellent scientific research in the Netherlands by means of national competition. Each year NWO spends more than 700 million euro on grants for top researchers, on innovative instruments and equipment, and on institutes where top research is performed. NWO funds the research of more than 5300 talented researchers at universities and institutes. Independent experts select proposals by means of a peer review system. NWO facilitates the transfer of knowledge to society.

Further information:

- NWO Information & Communication Department
- t.: +31 70 344 0713, voorlichting@nwo.nl
- http://www.newindigo.eu

List of projects awarded with Dutch participants

NANOLINEN - Nanotoxicology link between India and European Nations
Coordination: Turkey and India
Partners: University of Amsterdam, Austria, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain

Nanotoxicology studies the possible toxic characteristics of nanoparticles, which are being used increasingly more often. Within this project, European and Indian partners are collaborating in the area of nanotechnology. The eight countries are together mapping where further research is needed by means of six workshops for researchers, companies, the regulatory bodies and governments.

Planty - Valorisation of plant-derived by-products as functional ingredients in animal and human health
Coordination: Austria and India
Partners: Wageningen UR, Germany, Spain, Turkey

Each year the processing of plants into food produces tonnes of vegetable waste. This project will investigate if the material can be further processed into a healthy nutritional product. Over a period of 24 months, European and Indian researchers will meet each other to share results from previous research and to identify new research questions.

Plasfalsyn - Structure/ Function studies of Plasmodium falciparum GMP synthetase
Coordination: France and India
Partner: University of Groningen

The parasite Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for one to two million deaths worldwide each year. The parasite causes malaria, and the lack of a vaccine together with the parasite’s growing resistance are making the quest for a drug increasingly urgent. Genetic routes that play a role in the metabolism of the parasite form a possible target for drugs. Within this project, GMP synthetase (GMPS) will be investigated. Previous work from Indian researchers will provide a good basis for further analyses. Scientists from different disciplines (e.g. biochemistry, crystallography, parasitology) will collaborate on this project.

PotBIO - Biomarkers for healthy potatoes
Coordination: Wageningen UR and India
Partners: Germany, Spain, United Kingdom

There is a growing worldwide demand for potatoes. Research and development are needed to ensure that this rising demand can also be met in the future. The unravelling of the potato gene, amongst others by Indian researchers, has opened up the way for further improvements to the potato.

SAP - Elucidating the pathogenesis of staphylococcal diseases by studying virulence factors of Indian Community Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Coordination: France, India
Partners: Erasmus MC and Sweden

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacteria that can cause many diseases in humans: from a mild infection to a life-threatening inflammation of the blood. Up until now, the well-known HA-Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA) in hospitals has often been blamed for many hospital infections. However, this bacterium is increasingly being suppressedby CA-MRSA. The genetic basis of both bacteria will now be mapped. The role of the Panton Valentine leucocidin (PVL) gene and the effect of using antibiotics too often will also be investigated in this project.