TORONTO, April 4, 2013 /CNW/ - The launch of Grand Challenges India, and its addition to a growing international network of organizations promoting health innovation through a challenge approach, was welcomed today by Dr. Peter A. Singer, Chief Executive Officer of Grand Challenges Canada.
At the First Foundation Day of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) on March 20, 2013, in New Delhi, India's Honorable Minister of Science & Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences, Shri. Sudini Jaipal Reddy, announced a partnership among the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), BIRAC and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to create Grand Challenges India. The partnership's goal is to foster Indian innovation as well as global collaboration to address health and development challenges.
"International alliances are essential for progress in solving global challenges," says Dr. Singer. "Through the grand challenges network, India has great potential to contribute to global health and development, both with its existing wealth of innovators as well as its unique understanding of the needs of a rapidly developing economy."
Grand Challenges Canada, funded by the Government of Canada, was announced in Canada's federal budget in 2008 and launched on May 3, 2010. Canada was the first country in the world to fund a grand challenges approach to development innovation. Grand Challenges Canada works closely with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Grand Challenges initiative and USAID's Grand Challenges for Development, as well as other partners on specific grand challenges. The Grand Challenges family was joined by Brazil in April 2012.
"Grand Challenges India is a welcome addition to the Grand Challenges family," adds Dr. Singer. "We look forward to working with Grand Challenges India and collaborating on bold, innovative approaches to health and development."
For more information, visit grandchallenges.ca
For a News Release by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, visit http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases/2013/04/Grand-Challenges-India-a-new-Partnership.
About Grand Challenges Canada
Grand Challenges Canada is dedicated to supporting bold ideas with big impact in global health. We are funded by the Government of Canada through the Development Innovation Fund announced in the 2008 Federal Budget. We fund innovators in low- and middle-income countries and Canada. Grand Challenges Canada works with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and other global health foundations and organizations to find sustainable long-term solutions through integrated innovation - bold ideas which integrate science, technology, social and business innovation. Grand Challenges Canada is hosted at the Sandra Rotman Centre.
www.grandchallenges.ca
SOURCE: Grand Challenges Canada
For Media Enquiries:
Katherine Hannemann
Grand Challenges Canada
416.673.6570
[email protected]
Share this article