The potential of technology to bridge the gap between urban and rural communities in the UK and India will be explored at an international workshop this week.
How new, emerging and existing technologies could be used to make rural living a more sustainable option will be discussed at the event which began in Nagpur, India yesterday (Monday October 18).
Hosted by Research Councils UK (RCUK) and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, key academics working in digital and energy technologies from the UK and India will convene for the workshop.
Professor Peter Edwards Technical Director of dot.rural - the RCUK research hub based at the University of Aberdeen which is investigating how digital technologies could transform rural communities, society and business - will be among those attending.
The workshop aims to stimulate collaborative thinking around the research challenges of rural living, with a particular focus on the development of robust digital infrastructures and sustainable energy solutions for all.
Professor Edwards said: "Technology has the potential to transform how people in rural communities in both the UK and India live and work in the future, but in order to make this transformation an innovative, multidisciplinary and international approach is required."
"This workshop will bring together academics from these two countries working in the areas of digital and energy technologies to discuss how we can best work collaboratively to meet these challenges."
"I will offer an insight during the workshop into the research being conducted at the University of Aberdeen's dot.rural research hub and will highlight some of the digital technologies that may have potential in both the UK and India. "
The workshop - Bridging the Urban and Rural Divide - began with an opening dinner yesterday (Monday October 18) with working sessions continuing until Thursday (October 21) in Wardha, near Nagpur in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
The event will take place at the Ashram Magan Sangrahalaya which was founded by MK Gandhi.