India and the Philippines Reinforce Science and Technology Partnership with New Cooperation Programme
In a significant development aimed at enhancing bilateral scientific collaboration, India and the Philippines have signed a new Programme of Cooperation (PoC) for the period 2025 to 2028. This formal agreement was finalized during a high-level meeting held in New Delhi, featuring key representatives from both nations: Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr., Secretary of Science and Technology of the Philippines, and Dr. Jitendra Singh, India’s Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences.
Renewed Momentum in Bilateral Relations
The meeting underscored a renewed momentum in science and technology relations between India and the Philippines, with a focus on translating broad cooperation frameworks into impactful, practical projects. Dr. Singh emphasized geospatial technologies and the blue economy as immediate priority areas for joint efforts, highlighting their importance in disaster risk reduction, maritime resource management, and environmental sustainability.
“These areas hold great promise for initiatives that can deliver tangible societal and economic benefits,” said Dr. Singh. He also drew attention to India’s National Geospatial Policy 2022, aimed at fostering a strong ecosystem for geospatial data usage involving government, academia, and industry. Of particular interest is India’s objective to develop comprehensive high-resolution topographical surveys and precise digital elevation models by 2030, knowledge that could greatly inform similar efforts in the Philippines.
Comprehensive Cooperation Across Eight Sectors
The newly signed Programme of Cooperation covers eight thematic sectors: agricultural biotechnology, artificial intelligence, disaster risk management, energy storage systems, ocean sciences, space technology, health sciences, and smart materials. Through this framework, both countries aim to promote collaborative research and development, facilitate the exchange of scientists and technical experts, build capacity, and share non-proprietary scientific data.
Institutions from India and the Philippines will be encouraged to submit joint research proposals on an annual basis, emphasizing the development of innovative and commercially viable technologies. These projects are designed to tackle shared national needs and contribute to scientific progress not only bilaterally but also regionally.
Strengthening Regional Integration and Collaboration
Dr. Singh expressed support for the Philippines’ active engagement in the broader India-ASEAN science and technology cooperation framework. He noted that fellowship programmes, joint training opportunities, and collaborative events have already strengthened regional integration, and that there is vast potential to deepen cooperation through people-to-people and institutional partnerships.
The leaders also agreed on the importance of regular meetings of the India-Philippines Joint Committee. This committee will monitor the PoC implementation, review progress, address challenges, and explore new areas for joint ventures.
Building on Past Success, Addressing Emerging Challenges
The 2025-2028 Programme builds upon an already strong foundation of scientific collaboration between the two countries and aims to respond flexibly to emerging scientific challenges. It includes provisions on funding arrangements, exchange visits, intellectual property protection, and the organisation of joint workshops and symposia.
Notably, the agreement aligns with a shared vision to harness science and technology in support of sustainable development and climate change resilience, especially for island and coastal regions vulnerable to environmental pressures and climate risks. Collaborative initiatives in ocean sciences, renewable energy, and advanced digital technologies are therefore considered timely and critical.
Looking Ahead
Dr. Singh conveyed confidence that this renewed partnership would bolster innovation and build capabilities that benefit both India and the Philippines. “Our engagement today reflects a mutual aspiration to leverage science and technology as drivers of economic growth, social progress, and regional stability,” he remarked, emphasizing the people-centric nature of the collaboration.
Senior officials from India’s Department of Biotechnology and Ministry of Earth Sciences, along with counterparts from the Philippines, also attended the signing meeting. This development is set to pave the way for deeper and more results-oriented cooperation ahead of scheduled Head of State-level engagements between the two countries.
As India and the Philippines strengthen their cooperation in key scientific domains, the partnership is positioned to deliver innovations and solutions addressing common challenges while advancing regional science and technology integration.
