India and Israel join forces to develop rapid testing system to fight Coronavirus
by Indrani BagchiReuters file photo used for representation
NEW DELHI: India and Israel have decided to join forces to develop rapid testing systems that can conduct Covid-19 tests at under a minute, in the highest level of R&D cooperation between the two countries. Officials said the process had started and they hoped to be able to come out with a test that would allow people to safely step out and resume normal life.
Announcing the new project, the Israel embassy in India tweeted on Monday, "Discussed joint R&D for rapid diagnosis based on big data and AI technology, to enable a rapid return to routine. This is part of the vision of @IsraeliPM and @PMOIndia for wide-ranging scientific cooperation between India and Israel."
PM Narendra Modi and Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu have already spoken a couple of times since the pandemic outbreak.
The interesting bit about the cooperation is that the premier defence research organisations on both sides will be involved. Indian institutions like the defence research and development organisation (Drdo) and the council for scientific and industrial research (CSIR) are likely to partner Israel’s directorate of R&D in the ministry of defence for the purpose.
Another tweet by the embassy spokesperson, Avigail Spira said, "@kvijayraghavan, @DRDO_India, & @CSIR_IND held discussions with Head of Israel’s Directorate of R&D in @Israel_MOD, Dr. Dani Gold, Amb. @DrRonMalka & Amb. Sanjeev Singla @Indemtel about high-level scientific cooperation between India & Israel to address #COVID19." Gold is well known for his work on the development of Israel’s famous Iron Dome rocket interception system.
Earlier this month, Israel’s defence minister announced that Israel's institute for biological research institute (IIBRI) had developed a potential treatment for the coronavirus disease, by identifying an monoclonal antibody that neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 in vitro or outside of a living organism.