Aiming at promoting cooperation with African countries in science, the government today launched a special fellowship under which 416 scholars from 52 nations will be able to come here and pursue research.
Each of the 52 African countries will send eight students under the C V Raman International Fellowship started by the Department of Science and Technology.
"We will allow these students to do research in our acclaimed institutions. We will give them around Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 per month during their research work," Science and Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan said.
These countries will send post-doctoral and professor- level scholars under the fellowship which will be coordinated by FICCI.
"We found out the international projects enabled us to create multi-institutional partnership. We are keen to see that our relationship with Africa deepens at academic and research level," Chavan said.
He said the government would encourage Indian students to go to African countries and take up research also. This will help each other know the areas of strength of institutions in India and Africa.
Chavan said the period from 2010 to 2020 will be celebrated as a decade of innovation in India and priority will be given to research and development.