- Grants of up to ₹1.5 crore are available for projects lasting up to 24 months.
- Each proposal must include at least one Indian and one US partner.
- The extended deadline for applications is Monday (31).
The US and India are putting money behind two technology areas that could shape everything from advanced manufacturing to cybersecurity, with a new funding programme offering up to ₹1.5 crore for joint projects in critical minerals and quantum technology.
The United States–India Science & Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) is offering grant-in-aid support for Indian and US academic institutions and businesses that form formal partnerships to develop and commercialise technologies in the two areas. The extended deadline for project proposals is Monday (31).
The programme is aimed at projects that can move beyond research and towards commercial applications, particularly those with the potential to deliver wider economic or societal benefits.
From research to something businesses can use
Critical minerals have become increasingly important to manufacturing and energy supply chains. They are used in areas including semiconductors, clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing, making reliable access to these materials an economic and strategic concern for both countries.
Quantum technology is another focus. Advances in quantum computing, communications, sensing and cybersecurity could eventually have applications across a range of industries, although many of these technologies are still developing.
USISTEF said the partnership programme is intended to help India and the US develop breakthrough technologies while building trusted technology ecosystems and strengthening the resilience of their supply chains.
The funding is not simply aimed at academic research. USISTEF's mandate is to commercialise technologies for societal impact, so preference will be given to projects showing strong innovation, higher technology readiness and a clear route towards commercialisation.
One country alone cannot apply
There is a key condition for companies and institutions hoping to secure the funding: projects must be genuinely bilateral.
Every proposal must have at least one Indian and one US partner for the full duration of the project. The two primary partners are also expected to have significant and complementary roles in developing and commercialising the proposed technology.
At least one partner should be an entrepreneurial entity, preferably a small or medium-sized enterprise.
Eligible applicants can include incorporated companies and start-ups, non-incorporated entities, academic institutions, government and non-government research organisations, or consortia involving these groups.
The funding can run for up to 24 months, with support of as much as ₹1.5 crore.
However, companies cannot simply establish a subsidiary or spin-off in the other country and use that as their bilateral partner. Subsidiaries or spin-offs of one partner in the other country are specifically excluded from applying.
The programme therefore puts the emphasis on partnerships that bring together complementary expertise from both countries, with the eventual aim of turning promising research into technologies that can be deployed commercially.
