Indo-US Science and Technology Forum

The Indo U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), in partnership with the U.S. Embassy India, New Delhi, and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India (DST), hosted the United States India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) Award Ceremony for Transformative Technologies in Advanced Materials & Critical Minerals on 15 May 2026. The event celebrated innovation, recognized pioneering projects, and reaffirmed the shared commitment of India and the United States to advancing science and technology collaboration.

The programme began with welcome remarks by Dr. Chaitali Bhattacharya, Executive Director (Interim), who highlighted USISTEF’s significant role in advancing Indo–US joint innovations. This was followed by inaugural remarks from Ms. Amy Schedlbauer, U.S. Co-Chair and Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, who emphasized the importance of the Fund, its broader impact, and its accomplishments over the past 17 years. She also highlighted that strategic cooperation in critical minerals is essential for strengthening trusted and resilient technology supply chains, which remains a key objective of the Pax Silica initiative. Dr. Praveenkumar Somasundaram (Indian Co-Chair), Head of International Cooperation at the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, highlighted that collaborative deep-tech investments under the initiative are driving innovations that are critical for both economic progress and national security. The ceremony also featured presentations on the awarded projects, the distribution of certificates, and the unveiling of the new Call Theme. The event concluded with closing remarks and a vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Sean Ruthe, First Secretary, Economic Affairs, U.S. Embassy New Delhi, who appreciated the unwavering commitment and collaborative efforts that continue to strengthen and advance the USISTEF initiative.

Bringing together leaders from the innovation ecosystem, the event also featured an exhibition where past and present awardees showcased prototypes and research posters, highlighting the impact of Indo-U.S. collaborative innovation. A short film on innovation demonstrated how research partnerships are driving scalable technologies with meaningful societal and commercial outcomes. USISTEF also officially launched its new call theme through a dedicated film, inviting collaborative solutions to emerging scientific and technological challenges with strong translational, entrepreneurial, and societal impact.

Through initiatives such as USISTEF, India and the United States continue to strengthen their innovation ecosystems by fostering collaborative research, technology development, and commercialization-oriented partnerships that contribute to global progress.

U.S. Department of State
U.S. Embassy India
Department of Science and Technology, Government of India