CREW and James Hutton Limited to explore prospects of India-UK collaboration at TECH Summit

"The James Hutton Institute has massive and hugely relevant expertise to offer

Representatives from James Hutton Limited, the James Hutton Institute’s commercial subsidiary, and the Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW) are to take part in the TECH Summit 2016, which will see thought leaders, businesses, educational institutions and innovators explore the future of India-UK collaboration.

The TECH Summit comprises five thematic conferences on technology, entrepreneurship & innovation, higher education, design and intellectual property, touching on a vast range of subjects including life sciences and agricultural technology. The summit will feature a special participation from UK Prime Minister Theresa May.

Dr Jonathan Snape, Commercial Manager of James Hutton Limited, will represent the James Hutton Group at a panel discussion on agricultural innovation and at a subsequent roundtable discussion on India-UK prospects for collaboration in the area.

Likewise, Dr Richard Allan, CREW Manager, is taking part in a panel discussion about wastewater treatment technologies in smart cities and a roundtable on wastewater technologies.

Drs Snape and Allan’s itineraries will see them hold meetings in five different cities across the country to explain how Scottish expertise can help India tackle challenges of food and water security.

Dr Snape said: “India is a huge market for agricultural products and the Indian government is investing heavily in ensuring the country has adequate food supplies into the future. The James Hutton Institute has massive and hugely relevant expertise to offer, especially with respect to potatoes and barley, and on growing crops on marginal land.”

“The Centre for Expertise in Water recognises the urgency around addressing Sustainable Development Goal 6 where the delivery of safe clean water and sanitation is a critical need. We are working in partnership with the Scottish Government, the Indian Institute of Science and the Indian Institute of Technology to deliver innovative science that informs the next generation of modular, sustainable decentralised treatment systems,” Dr Allan commented.

CREW is a Scottish Government-funded partnership between the James Hutton Institute and Scottish universities, and runs the Scottish Government’s Hydro Nation Scholarship Programme and Graduate School.