Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Feb 18: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology; Earth Sciences; and Minister of State in PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, held a comprehensive bilateral meeting with Dr. Shane Reti, Minister of Science, Innovation, Technology and Education, New Zealand, at Kartavya Bhavan here.
The visiting Minister is in India to participate in the ongoing AI Summit, and the meeting provided an opportunity to align the expanding technological discourse with deeper bilateral scientific collaboration.
Referring to the warm and forward-looking relationship between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Christopher Luxon, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the political leadership on both sides has created a conducive environment to elevate science and innovation cooperation to a new level. He emphasised that science diplomacy today plays a strategic role in strengthening bilateral ties and generating shared economic and societal value.
The two Ministers agreed that while India and New Zealand have a broad canvas of potential collaboration, the partnership would benefit from a focused, outcome-oriented approach. Instead of dispersing efforts across too many domains simultaneously, both sides concurred on identifying one or two priority areas with clearly defined milestones and measurable outcomes, which could then be scaled up into a long-term, structured framework of cooperation. Officials from both countries will now work out modalities and bring concrete proposals for further consideration.
During the discussions, Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted India’s rapid strides in biotechnology and bioeconomy, including the transformative Bio-E3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Mission and a growing network of bio-incubators supporting nearly 10,000 startups. Recognising New Zealand’s global standing in bioeconomy and agri-based innovation, both sides explored collaboration in climate-resilient crops, livestock and dairy genomics, soil microbiome research, functional foods, alternative proteins and nutraceuticals. The Ministers also discussed advancing carbon capture technologies and the biological utilisation of captured carbon into value-added products, underscoring the shared commitment to sustainable growth and net-zero transitions.
Climate action and clean energy emerged as key pillars of discussion. Dr. Jitendra Singh outlined India’s mission-driven approach towards net-zero through green hydrogen, electric mobility, clean energy diversification, and ocean-based energy exploration. He also shared India’s progress in ocean sciences and desalination technologies, including initiatives in island territories such as Lakshadweep to ensure potable water security. The New Zealand side shared its expertise in geothermal energy and renewable systems, and both Ministers agreed that combining strengths in ocean energy, geothermal research and climate-resilient infrastructure could yield mutually beneficial outcomes.
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