Two-day Indo-US MeitY-National Science Foundation Workshop for research collaboration
On November 2, 2023, the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Shri S Krishnan, inaugurated the inaugural two-day Indo-US MeitY-National Science Foundation (NSF) Workshop, aimed at fostering research collaboration. This event serves as a platform for researchers from the United States and India to come together and explore opportunities for joint research endeavors.
The partnership between MeitY and NSF represents a commitment from both nations to enhance their collaborative efforts in the realm of strategic technology development. The collaboration encourages teams of researchers from the United States and India to establish meaningful partnerships with testbed providers, local communities, and industry stakeholders to ensure the necessary resources and expertise for the success of their projects.
MeitY and NSF formalized their collaboration through an Implementation Arrangement (IA) in May 2023. This joint research initiative focuses on promoting discoveries and innovations in areas of shared interest, as outlined in the Joint Statement released by the Government of India and the United States during Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s visit to the U.S. in June 2023.
The first call for joint research proposals focuses on areas such as semiconductor research, next-generation communication technologies, networks, systems, cybersecurity, sustainability, green technologies, and Intelligent Transportation Systems. Proposal submission began on August 21, 2023, and the deadline for submissions is set for January 5, 2024.
The first day of the workshop witnessed active participation from over 200 researchers and start-ups from both countries, along with officials from NSF, the U.S. Embassy, and senior representatives from MeitY and various industries. The day featured sessions dedicated to semiconductor research, interactions between industry and universities, cybersecurity, and parallel breakout sessions covering the five identified areas of research collaboration, all of which were well-attended by researchers from both sides.
