INDO-FINNISH VIRTUAL NETWORK CENTRE

• Recently, Finland’s Minister of Economic Affairs met India’s Union Minister of State Science & Technology.
• They announced the decision to establish an Indo-Finnish Virtual Network Centre on Quantum Computing.
• The Indian side has identified three premier institutes viz IIT Madras, IISER Pune and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) Pune for Virtual Network Centre on Quantum Computing.

Highlights of the Meeting

India is keen to develop research collaborations with Finnish R&D institutions and technology collaboration with Finnish Industry especially focusing on the following technology domains and application of Quantum Computing in areas such as:

1. Sustainable Energy Technologies (generation, conversion, storage and conservation), Environment and Clean Technologies,
2. Biobased Economy, BioBanks and Biobased materials for different applications,
3. Water and Marine Technologies,
4. Food & Agri Technologies,
5. Affordable Healthcare (including, Pharmaceuticals and Biomedical Instrumentation),
6. Technologies for Advanced Manufacturing, Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in all domains.

History of India-Finland Relations

• Finland and India have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly relations.
• In recent years, bilateral relations have acquired diversity with collaboration in research, innovation, and investments by both sides.
• 2019 marked 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
• Each Other’s Importance: Finland sees India as a market for its products and a favourable investment destination for its high technology industries.
• India views Finland as an important member of the European Union and a repository of modern technology.
• S&T Collaboration: India and Finland have strong bonding in Science, Technology and Innovation.
• Both India and Finland are consultative members of the Antarctic Treaty and have active stations in Antarctica.
• Finland would be hosting the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) in 2023 and India in 2024.
• India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) have been cooperating in the field of Atmospheric Environment since 2014.
• Under this collaboration, Air Quality Forecasting models developed by FMI are customised for the Indian region resulting in the enhanced capability to forecast pollution events from microscale to regional scale so that pollution control authorities can take appropriate action.
• Finland is a leader in 5G/6G technology and Top Indian IT companies are looking to collaborate in this sector.

Economic and Commercial Relations:

• In 2020, India’s total trade (goods and services) with Finland was USD 2.3 billion which is in India’s favour.
• Trade-in goods in 2020 were approximately USD 950 mn and were in Finland’s favour by approximately USD 134 million.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT