New Delhi, 15 November (H.S.): India and the Italy-based International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) have launched the ‘India-ICTP Co-operation Fund’ to strengthen scientific collaboration and facilitate greater international mobility for Indian researchers. The initiative is expected to create new opportunities for Indian scientists, researchers and students to work and pursue research at the internationally renowned centre.

A Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed between the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and ICTP in this regard during the visit of Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, to ICTP in Trieste, Italy. Dr. Praveenkumar Somasundaram, Head of International Cooperation at the Department of Science and Technology, exchanged the LoI on behalf of the Indian side.

Welcoming the initiative, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the India-ICTP Co-operation Fund would help enhance the impact of the existing engagement between the two sides. He emphasised that providing an institutional framework to the longstanding partnership would give fresh impetus to scientific collaboration and researcher mobility.

The initiative seeks to build upon the longstanding partnership between India and ICTP. Indian scientists, researchers and students have already been participating in various programmes organised by the centre. The proposed fund will provide a more structured framework for this engagement and open up additional opportunities for Indian researchers.

ICTP is a leading international centre for advanced research, higher education and capacity building in physics, mathematics and related disciplines. Several Indian institutions have been associated with the centre through research collaborations, academic exchanges, workshops and training programmes.

The Department of Science and Technology, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), leading universities and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have collaborated with ICTP on joint research and exchange programmes. Indian researchers have benefited from the centre's visiting fellowships, diploma programmes and postdoctoral opportunities. Meanwhile, ICTP experts have worked with Indian scientists in areas such as high-energy physics, astrophysics, climate modelling and computational science.

According to the Ministry, the launch of the India-ICTP Co-operation Fund and the signing of the Letter of Intent will strengthen existing avenues of collaboration between the two sides. The initiative is also expected to help develop international research networks and promote innovations with wider societal benefits.

Dr. Jitendra Singh's visit to ICTP also included a welcome lunch and the launch of the researcher mobility programme. The visit was part of his official tour of Italy from November 11 to 15, 2026.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar