India and Finland on Monday  has announced the establishment of an Indo-Finnish Virtual Network Centre on Quantum Computing and signed a formal MoU to that effect here.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the presence of visiting Finnish Economic Affairs Minister, Mika Lintila and India's Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh.

The Science and Technology Minister, Jitendra Singh mentioned that bilateral STI collaboration between the two countries is an attempt to stimulate innovative R&D projects that address a specific need or challenge, demonstrate high industrial relevance and commercial potential, and aim to deliver benefit to both the nations.

India has identified three prominent institutes, which are, IIT Madras, IISER Pune and C-DAC Pune for the Virtual Network Centre on Quantum Computing. The move comes in the wake of the decision taken in the last joint committee meeting held in November 2020 to initiate cooperation regarding the new emerging areas such as 5G, Quantum Computing and sustainability by involving academia, industries and startups of the two countries.

"The Department of Science & Technology has initiated several new mission mode programmes such as electric vehicles, cyber physical systems, quantum technologies, future manufacturing, Green Hydrogen Fuel etc," said Jitendra Singh, and sought joint patnership with Finland in solving the issues of which included societal challenges.

Referring to the virtual summit held last March between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Sanna Marin, Singh pointed out that Finland's leading role in clean and green technologies can help India's drive towards sustainable development.

India and Finland, both are consultative members of the Antarctic Treaty and also they have active stations in Antarctica. Finland would be hosting the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) in 2023 and India in 2024.

Singh also emphasized that India Meteorological Department (IMD), and Finnish Meteorological Institute has been cooperating in the area of atmospheric environment since 2014.

Lintila, the Finnish Economic Affairs Minister, assured India that Finnish companies will collaborate with India for Carbon-neutral technologies and enhance cooperation for sustainability in climate change. The Finnish Minister also invited India to explore the possibility of deeper cooperation in Finland's Biobank project to mediate high quality human samples to medical research to promote development of new products and services that promote public health, a statement from the Ministry of S&T mentioned.