You are here: Home > Press Release > Training Programme on ...

Training Programme on Technology Diplomacy by CUTS Kicks Off
May 31, 2010, Jaipur

“Information sharing and creation of epistemic communities is the key to technology diplomacy,” said Kishan Rana, former Indian Ambassador to Germany and an expert on technology diplomacy. He was speaking at a five day Training Programme on Technology Diplomacy organised by CUTS, a Jaipur based non-governmental think tank, with the support of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The programme endeavours to imbue government officials/scientists in various departments/organisations with necessary skills.

Ambassador Rana pointed out that acquiring mastery in one’s domain area of knowledge and sharing information through the internet is very important in today’s world. He emphasised that entrepreneurial attitude needs to be developed among scientists/technologists of the government sector in India. He praised CUTS and its efforts in general and also applauded the initiative for taking up the mentioned programme.

Earlier in his introductory remarks, Atul Kaushik, Adviser (Projects), CUTS International, mentioned that the objective of the programme is to equip scientists with basic understanding of what it takes to negotiate a better technology agreement/memorandum including knowledge that is required for protection of innovations and abuse of related information.

The participants in this programme will be imparted skills on various aspects of technology diplomacy through lectures, simulation exercises, group discussions, etc led by a number of distinguished experts such as Deepak Bhatnagar, Head, Centre for International Trade in Technology (CITT), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT); R K Gupta, Head, Intellectual Property Management Division, CSIR; Vinay Kumar, Former Advisor & Head, Technology Management Division and visiting faculty at IIT Delhi; Dr. Ashok Jain, Vice President, Research & Academic Development; EMPI School; and Ms Vandana Sharma, Jaipur Finishing School.

Introductions from participants, ranging from electronic scientists and rock experts to agriculture scientists and economists, provided a window to their expectations. One of the participants stressed that programmes such as this were useful for linking theoretical possibilities to actual practice in negotiating agreements on transfer of technology, and thus for maximising gains from these..

For more information, please contact:
Archana Jatkar (aj@cuts.org) and Pavitra Khandelwal (pk3@cuts.org)