Tuesday, April 25 2006 17:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Berlin: In a bid to give a boost to bilateral cooperation in the field of science and technology, India and Germany have decided to set up a joint research centre which will also have private participation.

The Indo-German science and technology research center would have private participation from both the countries, Minister of Science and Technology Kapil Sibal who is accompanying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Germany said.

The centre will have 20 per cent government equity, both Indian and German, and 30 per cent equity each of German and Indian enterprises.

The centre would be run by private entreprenuers and the Government would be funding on the basis of projects.

Giving details of the talks held with the German government, Sibal said that they discussed possibilities of tapping alternate sources of energy like solar energy which is available in unlimited quantity and is cleanest.

As a follow up of the Prime Minister's visit, German science and technology minister would visit India in October-November this year, Sibal said as the PM wrapped up his three-day visit to Germany.

The Minister described the PM's visit as 'exceptionally successful' and said the two countries had agreed that their strategic partnership should be of global level.

The two countries discussed wide range of issues and at the heart of these was the energy issue.

He said the PM and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed how the international community should get together to ensure energy security in the world.

Sibal said Merkel hailed India's multi-cultural multi ethnic character. She said as Europe was also multi-ethnicand multi-cultural it has a lot to learn from India's example.

Singh told Merkel that if India is not given access to nuclear energy, which is significantly needed by India, itwould create an imbalance between haves and have nots and this should not be allowed by the world community.

National Security Adviser N K Narayanan said that the Prime Minister explained to Merkel why India needs nuclear energy and the Chancellor responded by saying that she understood New Delhi's position.

Sibal said that German Chancellor assured PM that her country will adopt a 'positive' and 'constructive approach with regard to the Indo-US civil nuclear deal when it comes up for discussion at the Nuclear Supplier Group (energy).

She said Germany will ask 'constructive questions' at the energy group and would expect constructive answers from India.

Singh told Merkel that India genuinely has security concerns.

Narayanan said the remarks by IAEA Director General Mohammad ElBaradei welcoming the Indo-US deal would be helpful. He said the world recognises that India has strategic nuclear programme.