OTTAWA -- Canada and India on Sunday launched ten $17-million joint initiatives as part of a 2005 scientific and technological cooperation agreement.

"These joint projects will enhance the collaboration between our scientists and commercialize their discoveries," said David Emerson, Canada's minister of foreign affairs and international trade.

He made the announcement with India's visiting Union Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Kapil Sibal.

Eight of the joint initiatives deal with research; two establish partnerships. Total funding for all ten is $17 million.

One project will study the use of biomimetic material to integrate and repair the cornea of the eye. Another will create a common modeling and simulation tool to test multiple aircraft and air-related equipment for a new generation of regional aircraft.

There is also a joint project to study the use of biofuels in aircraft gas turbine engines made from Canadian and Indian feedstocks.