New Delhi: In a bid to strengthen their relationship, India and the United States have unveiled a series of educational and collaborative efforts. This announcement came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden during the G20 summit in New Delhi.
According to an official statement, Indian universities, represented by the Council of Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT Council), and the Association of American Universities (AAU) have inked an agreement to establish the India-US Global Challenges Institute, with an initial combined investment of at least $10 million. This institute will bring together prominent research and higher education institutions from both countries to advance various scientific and technological fields. These areas encompass sustainable energy, agriculture, health, pandemic preparedness, semiconductor technology, advanced materials, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, and quantum science. The primary aim of this collaboration is to address global challenges that necessitate interdisciplinary solutions.
Furthermore, IIT-Kanpur is collaborating with New York University Tandon School of Engineering to launch the NYU-Tandon Advanced Research Center, focusing on critical and emerging technologies. Additionally, IIT-Kanpur, IIT-Jodhpur, IIT-BHU, and IIT-Delhi are teaming up with the State University of New York at Buffalo to create Joint Research Centers. As part of the India-U.S. Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), IIT-Kanpur, IIT-Hyderabad, and other institutions will participate in the Academia Startup Partnership.
In another significant development, IIT-Bombay has become an international partner of the Chicago Quantum Exchange, contributing to the global quantum economy. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has warmly welcomed these initiatives, emphasizing their importance in fostering educational collaboration between India and the United States.
“As the G20 summit gets underway, I’m delighted to share the transformative Joint Statement issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden. This statement celebrates our educational collaboration through the India-US Global Challenges Institute and marks a significant milestone in defense innovation through the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X),” the education minister said.
(With Inputs from Agencies)