India and Sweden have signed an agreement on co-operation in the fields of science and technology enabling strong impetus to collaboration in identified areas of mutual strength such as biotechnology, IT and environment-related technologies.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Kapil Sibal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Ocean Development and his Swedish counterpart, Leif Pagrotsky, Minister for Education and Culture in Stockholm, stated an official press release. The comprehensive agreement has been a result of commitment at the highest levels on both sides for co-operation through joint research, greater academic exchanges and to facilitate industrial research and development, it stated.

Sibal who is on a visit to Stockholm from December 9-12, 2005 as a special invitee of the Swedish Government to the Nobel Prize Ceremonies, was also invited to participate in a Summit on ‘Present and Future Challenges in Science’ along with ministerial representatives from a group of select countries including Japan, the US, France and Korea. The meeting, chaired by Swedish Minister Leif Pagrotsky, discussed how governments and the scientific community can better use science for the benefit of society and to solve human problems.

During his extensive interaction with the Swedish press, Sibal projected India's recognised and growing reputation as a major player in cutting edge technologies such as IT and biotech and its emergence as hub in the global market.