Indian Institute of Science and Karolinska Institute (KI), Sweden, have forged an alliance for advanced research in biosciences. The memorandum of understanding between the two institutes called for better scientific exchange.

On the occasion of signing the MoU, a workshop organized by the Indian Institute of Science and KI in collaboration with the Swedish Embassy Delhi and VINNOVA, Sweden highlighted the capabilities of the two institutes.

KI is currently one of Europe's largest medical universities. It is also Sweden's largest centre for medical training and research, accounting for 40 per cent of all the medical academic research that is conducted nationwide.

The two-day workshop highlighted the research and innovation policy development by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairman and managing director, Biocon Limited. IISc's scientific community, which focused on Infectious diseases highlighted the opportunities for Innovations in Pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and biomedical technology. The different topics addressed included Tuberculosis, HIV and malaria. An overview of the biotechnology developments in the West of Sweden was also provided.

A panel of Indian and Swedish industry representatives and academy members shared the future plans of action which included funding opportunities. The workshop was a platform to identify several initiatives in biosciences by both the Institutes, stated sources from IISc.

Karolinska Institute's research programme spans the entire spectrum of medical sciences. Further KI's, collaboration with other educational institutions, including Stockholm University, Uppsala University, the School of Economics and the Royal Institute of Technology covers a multitude of new interdisciplinary fields such as bioengineering, biotechnology, bioethics, bio-computing, biocontracting and bio-nanotechnology. It also focuses on several clinical and basic science disciplines like Allergies, Alzheimer's disease, bio-statistical genetics, Diabetes, Endocrinology and receptors, Infection Biology, Integrative physiology, Molecular oncology, Neuro-cognitive research, Stem cell etc.

Indian Institute of Science team of scienitsts have been engaged in several advanced reserch in infectious diseases through industry institute partnerships.

In Karantaka, this is the second initaitve by Karolisnka Institute as it has already inked a Memorandum of Understanding with Biocon Limited to collaborate in research and research education initiatives last year.