Mumbai: In order to get scientific solutions for global challenges, University of California, Berkeley, has sought greater partnership with India.

"India is a major force today in science and technology. There are opportunities for partnership with India on issues like sustainable energy initiatives for the country and the world," said Robert Birgeneau, chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley, on his visit to the city's Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

Birgeneau has come to India to make ties with the government, academic institutions and with the industry for discussing potential collaborations for research.

"The agreement is to look at energy efficiency and the demand side management as well as regulatory policies for renewable energy development," said Birgeneau. The International Energy Studies division of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, jointly with California Energy commission and California Public Utilities Commission has entered into a contract with Maharastra Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Birgeneau mentioned that, a university scientist, Ashok Gadgil has generated a low cost UV light source suspended in air to inactivate a broad range of micro organisms. The CU and a California based private firm Waterhealth International has licensed Gadgil's design and the partnership with ICICI bank in India, has helped village councils set up reasonable financing to buy the micro utilities.

To give proper eye care at Arvind Eye Hospital in south India, faculty from electrical and computer science and from the Haas Business School have been working with Microsoft India and Vodafone on cheap wireless technologies for tele medicine.