Seeking to literally "cement ties" between the two countries, premier institutions from India and Switzerland have partnered as part of a consortium of researchers that has produced a "new type" of cement with a "reduced carbon footprint".

Aided by the Swiss government to the tune of USD 4.3 million, the global research team drawn from Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) and three IITs - Delhi, Bombay and Madras, among others have managed to double the production of cement from the same quantity of limestone by substituting a large portion of clinker (an intermediary material) with calcined clay.

As part of the Indo-Swiss cooperation, India is the first country where the new cement type, called the Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) is currently being tested on a "large-scale", both in laboratory and in the field, an official of the Swiss Embassy official said.

"The new cement generates 30 per cent less carbon dioxide emissions compared to traditional cement. And, as part of our Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in India and our concern on climate change, this new technology seeks to reduce the burden on environment," Swiss Ambassador to India Linus von Castelmur told PTI.

The diplomat today launched the development of the project here and later also addressed a workshop on the LC3.

Apart from the three IITs, Delhi-based technology incubation partner, Technology and Action for Rural Development (TARA) and universities in Cuba and Brazil are also participating in the projects.

"The trial productions of LC3 carried out in India and Cuba have shown good results. And, with our Holcim company, a global leader in cement production owing the ACC-Ambuja cement, I think the partnership holds promise for both sides," Castelmur said.

Top officials at the Swiss Embassy said, the reason for choosing India was also "scientific excellence and rising Indian economy with a future rapid urbanisation in sight".

The Ambassador said that the technology was "kept open and free from any kinds of patents" in the interest of global climate.

"The technology is not patented and so anyone who wish to join us later are invited and adopt it in the interest of reducing the carbon footprint. Once, we scale it finally on production level, it will be made available to all companies around the world," he said.