Mamallapuram: Taking the trilateral developmental initiative between India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) to the next step, programme coordinators are mulling ways to expand the programme's reach.

"We would like to bring in scientists in the age bracket 40-45 years under the IBSA programme. The challenge is to design a programme that would really add value to their scientific quest," Baldev Raj, national coordinator of India for IBSA Nanotechnology Initiative and director, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) told reporters in Mamallapuram, which is some 80 km from Chennai.

IBSA's aim is to promote trilateral and bilateral collaborative programmes in the areas of advanced materials, energy systems, sensors, catalysis, health (tuberculosis, malaria and HIV), water treatment, agriculture and environment.

The trilateral initiative is for the promotion of South-South co-operation and exchange in the scientific and technological field between India, Brazil and South Africa.

India is the lead country for research projects in development of sensors and nano devices under the broad head advanced materials.

Brazil is the lead country on nano-structured organic and inorganic hybrid solar cells projects and South Africa in the areas of health and water.

According to Raj, the IBSA coordinators will also discuss the necessity of holding schools (short term programmes) for the researchers and the ways to attract good research projects under the three subjects.

He said around 30 researchers in the three member countries are pursuing research activities.

According to him, South Africa will work on the new drug delivery systems that would not only reduce the amount of drug dosage but also focus on administering the drugs at specific points through nano particles. IANS