New Delhi: India is offering 416 fellowships to African researchers in top Indian institutions in areas from biotechnology to forestry. "We not only want to intensify relations at political and trade level with Africa, but also at the scientific and academic level," Science and Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan said here Friday, launching the C.V. Raman International Fellowship for African Researchers.

Eight fellowships, in three categories, will be offered to each African country - making a total of 416. The three categories are of senior fellowship of one month duration, visiting fellowship of three months duration and a post doctoral fellowship of six months to one year.

The objective of the fellowships will be to provide opportunity to conduct, under the guidance of their host in India, collaborative research in universities and otherIndian institutions in various areas of science and technology.

The fellowship application will have to be made to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), which is the coordinator of the programme. The selection will be made by a panel established by the Indian government's department of science and technology.

Over 240 Indian institutions have been included in the programme, ranging from the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and National Institute of Ocean Technology.

-- IANS