Question-There is a joint project for developing a next generation influenza vaccine to protect people of the world between European Union and –
(a)India
(b)China
(c)Pakistan
(d)Russia
Answer-(a).
Related facts-
- The European union and India will work together in research and innovation for developing a next generation influenza vaccine to protect people of the world .For this project Rs.240 crore is intended.
- The EU and the Indian government’s Department of Biotechnology both have committed to give 15 million Euros for this joint project.
- The EU is funding it under its programme for research and innovation ‘Horizon 2020’.
- The projects require minimum three applicants from Europe (three different EU member states) or countries associated to the EU programme Horizon 2020) and minimum three applicants from India .
- Applicants from other countries can also join the EU-India consortia means, the project are also ‘open to the world’.
Aim of this project-
- The aim is to advancing the efficacy, safety, duration of immunity, and reactivity against expansion of influenza strains.
- Its also aims to develop cost-effective and affordable influenza vaccine rapidly without compromising quality.
Horizon 2020-
- Horizon 2020 is the biggest research and innovation programme of European Union with €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020).
- It is the first in the world to take great ideas to the market from the lab.
- Horizon 2020 is the financial instrument implementing the Innovation Union, a Europe 2020 flagship initiative aimed at securing Europe’s global competitiveness.
- The goal is to removes barriers to innovation and reduce time so that participants can focus on important things.
References-
https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/what-horizon-2020
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/eu-india-to-collaborate-on-developing-next-generation-influenza-vaccine-118082801042_1.html