The collaborative effort between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) is focused on driving progress and innovation in areas of mutual interest. This partnership was formalized with an Implementation Arrangement (IA) signed in May 2023, with the goal of fostering research collaboration. MeitY recently initiated its inaugural call for proposals in conjunction with NSF, according to an official release dated August 21.
The NSF operates as an independent entity within the US federal government, supporting foundational research and educational initiatives spanning a variety of non-medical scientific and engineering disciplines. The mutual goal of MeitY and NSF is to encourage progress and innovations in fields of mutual interest, as emphasized in a collaborative announcement by the Indian and US governments in June 2023 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit.
The 1st Joint Call for proposals covers a range of domains, including semiconductor research, next-generation communication technologies, cybersecurity, sustainability, green technologies, and Intelligent Transportation Systems. Submissions for proposals started on August 21, 2023, and the final deadline for submissions is January 5, 2024. This collaborative initiative is designed to facilitate technological progress, which could involve developing prototypes, conducting pilot-scale demonstrations, implementing real-world solutions, and accelerating the transfer of technology.
Proposing teams from both the US and India are strongly encouraged to actively cultivate productive collaborations with providers of test beds, local communities, and industry partners. This strategic approach is crucial to ensure the availability of necessary resources and expertise, ultimately contributing to the successful execution of their respective projects.
The announcement about this initiative was made by Alkesh Kumar Sharma, Secretary of MeitY, and Dr. Panchanathan, Director of NSF. The event took place in the presence of Bhuvnesh Kumar, Additional Secretary of MeitY, and other senior officials from MeitY, NSF, and the US Embassy.
