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CSIR, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation sign MoU to Promote Health Research

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CSIR and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation sign MoU in area of health researchOn February 19, 2021, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for supporting development, conduct & promotion of health research in India.

  • The Focus of the agreement will be on developing & testing new preventions, therapies and interventions for solving major health concerns which affect India & other developing countries.
  • Furthermore, Both Entities will work towards identifying possible areas of collaboration in the Scientific & Technical fields.

Signed by 

  • The agreement was signed by Hari Menon, Director, India Country Office on behalf of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation & Dr G N Dayananda, Head, Technology Management Directorate – Industry Interface, CSIR.

Areas of Research Collaboration

As part of the agreement, the two entities have agreed to collaborate in various areas of research. They are

  • Genetic diseases that impact infant and neonatal mortality
  • New Diagnostics and devices for infectious disease and environmental surveillance
  • Development of cost-effective processes for drug, vaccines, biologics, and diagnostics manufacturing
  • Novel Microbiome-directed foods
  • Socio-economic impact of science & technological tools
  • Other areas of health and development.

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)

  • It is one of the largest research and development organisations in India.
  • It is funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology and operates as an independent body through the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
  • It carries research and development activities in the areas of aerospace engineering, structural engineering, ocean sciences, life sciences, metallurgy, chemicals, mining, food, petroleum, leather, and environmental science.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)

  • An American Private foundation founded by Bill Gates (Co-Founder of Microsoft) & Melinda Gates.
  • Primary Goals of the Foundation – To enhance healthcare & reduce extreme poverty across the globe, expand educational opportunities.

Recent Related News:

i.August 8, 2020, Serum Institute of India(SII) Private Limited has entered into a new partnership with Gavi, the International Vaccine Alliance and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to accelerate the process of manufacture and delivery of up to 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for India and other low and middle income countries(LMICs) by 2021.

About Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation:

Co-Chairs – Bill Gates & Melinda Gates
CEO – Mark Suzman
Headquarters – Washington, USA

About Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR):

President – Prime Minister of India (Narendra Modi)
Director General – Shekhar C. Mande
Headquarters – New Delhi