India's Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) based in Trieste, Italy have initiated an 'India-ICTP Co-operation Fund' to institutionalize their longstanding scientific partnership. A Letter of Intent was signed between DST and ICTP during the visit of Union Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, to ICTP in Italy from November 11 to 15, 2026. The LoI was exchanged from the Indian side by Dr. Praveenkumar Somasundaram, Head of International Cooperation in DST.
The cooperation fund aims to strengthen engagement and mobility of Indian researchers with the international research center, providing a more structured framework for existing engagement with particular emphasis on creating further opportunities for Indian researchers. The initiative builds upon India's longstanding partnership with ICTP, which has seen active participation by Indian scientists, researchers, and students across multiple programs including joint research, workshops, exchange programs, visiting fellowships, diploma programs, and postdoctoral opportunities.
ICTP is a leading global hub for advanced research, higher education, and capacity-building in physics, mathematics, and related fields. Indian institutions including DST, CSIR, leading universities, and IITs have collaborated with ICTP through various programs. The collaboration has involved research areas such as high-energy physics, astrophysics, climate modeling, and computational science, contributing to strengthening global networks of scientific excellence and supporting fundamental discoveries as well as innovations with societal impact.