Dr Brenda Rowan from Heriot-Watt's School of Engineering and Physical Sciences has recently returned from a workshop at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Bombay. Dr Rowan was part of a team of Scottish researchers who attended an Indo-Scottish workshop organised by the Energy Technology partnership and the IIT.
Dr Rowan represented the newly established Scottish Institute of Solar Energy Research (SISER) and Heriot-Watt University.
The aim of the workshop was to present current active areas of research in the institution's respective fields with a view to finding areas in which they could collaborate together. The workshop was organised in response to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Indian and Scottish Governments in October 2009 which outlines an agreement to 'drive innovation in renewable energy and support both governments' goals to increase supplies of wind energy, solar power and biofuels'.
The visit was very successful with several areas of potential collaboration identified. Joint funding applications are currently being developed and emphasis was placed on the arrangement of student and staff exchanges between Scottish and Indian Institutes.