IIT Council ties up with American univ assn to form research institute | Mumbai News – Times of India

MUMBAI: With a seed fund of $10 million, the IIT Council on behalf of all higher educational institutes in India has entered into an MoU with the Association of American Universities (AAU) to establish the Indo-US Global Challenges Institute.
The intent of the institute was announced in June this year, during the US visit of PM Narendra Modi. This institute will seek to address some of the “consequential” economic, environmental and technological challenges “that have the potential to affect the security, prosperity, and stability of both countries.”
“The Institute will be a virtual network of partner universities and provide a platform for addressing strategic research programs that require interdisciplinary solutions in critical and emerging technologies. It may have a secretariat or a programme management office both in New Delhi and Washington DC. But not a big set-up. Labs, research facilities and scientists will all be based in their own institute,” explained professor Abhay Karandikar who, on behalf of the IIT Council representing all the higher educational institutes of India, signed the MoU with professor Barbara Snyder, AAU president.
Five broad areas have been identified: sustainable energy and agriculture, health and pandemic preparedness, semiconductor technology and manufacturing, advanced materials, telecommunications, artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum science. The joint Indo-US Global Challenges Institute governing council will develop an organizational framework to promote research collaborations, create knowledge sharing platforms, work towards resource mobilization and ensure inclusive growth of research enterprise.
Additionally, once research projects are defined, institutes from both countries will be roped in depending on the expertise they bring in. “This will also lead to mobility of doctoral fellows, joint PhDs,” said Karandikar. “Also, once research begins, more funds will flow in to support the work.” In another significant partnership, IIT Bombay has joined the Chicago Quantum Exchange as an international partner. This will give shape to a shared vision of a global quantum economy catalyzed by the bedrock of India-US cooperation.