Call for Proposals: Transforming Technology Solutions through Advanced Materials and Critical Minerals

Among the many focal areas of this grand initiative, advanced materials and critical minerals – the transformative resources of the future have been recognized as crucial areas for collaboration. This domain, often addressed as the foundation of next-generation innovations, is pivotal to technological breakthroughs that will shape the future.

The call under United States – India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) is set to bolster collaborative efforts by supporting joint projects focused on these transformative areas. It aims to foster innovation, strengthen partnerships, and tackle the challenges surrounding supply chain resilience in these critical areas.

The Governments of the United States of America (through the Department of State) and India (through the Department of Science & Technology) established the United States-India Science & Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) in 2009 for supporting promising joint U.S.- India entrepreneurial initiatives on co-developing products or technologies that are beyond the ideation stage, have significant potential to commercialization within 2-3 years and address critical societal challenge. USISTEF activities are implemented and administered through the binational Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF).

Objectives

• Through a competitive grants program, the USISTEF selects and supports promising joint U.S.-India technology innovation and entrepreneurial initiatives that are commercially viable and socially relevant. These joint initiatives can originate from U.S. and Indian entities including startups, government, academic, or commercial endeavors, and any combination thereof provided they focus on applied R&D, incorporate a business plan and proof of commercial concept, and have significant sustainable commercial potential.

Themes

• The call will fund joint development and commercialization of advanced materials and critical minerals supporting the requirements of at least one of the following fields:
  • Quantum computing and communication
  • Cybersecurity/secured communication
  • Semiconductor fabrication/design/assembly/testing
  • Al systems (GPUs)
  • Biomanufacturing (biomaterials)
  • New energy security solutions
• The joint proposals aim to support teams in deploying and commercializing laboratory-validated prototypes that demonstrate innovation and societal impact.
• Essential Considerations-The mandate of USISTEF is “Commercializing Technologies for Societal Impact.” In line with this, preference will be given to:
  • Technologies demonstrating advanced levels of innovation.
  • Technologies having higher commercialization potential or technology readiness levels (TRL).
  • Breakthrough technologies that address critical societal challenges.

Funding Information

• Grant-in-aid: INR 1,00,000,00/- for each project
• Period up to 24 months.

Eligibility Criteria

• Proposals must have at least one Indian and one U. S. partner for the complete duration of the proposed project. Primary partners from both sides must have significant and synergistic roles in the development and commercialization of technologies for the specific application described in the proposal.
• At least one of the partners must be an entrepreneurial entity (preferably a small or medium-scale enterprise) and the team may include any combination of the following:
  • Incorporated companies including start-ups; or
  • Non-incorporated entities; or
  • Academic, governmental and non-governmental research institutions or their consortia
• If one of the partners is an academic institution/government entity/research institution, a no-objection certificate approving the participation of the Principal Investigator in the project must be submitted at the time of the application.
• The relationship between the U.S. and Indian partners must be clearly defined, including ownership of intellectual property rights for the technology proposed to be developed and commercialized. A formal, signed “Partnership Agreement” must be submitted once the team is shortlisted for further review.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Subsidiaries/spin-offs of one partner in the other country are not eligible to apply.

For more information, visit IUSSTF.