Deadline Date: July 31, 2026
The U.S.-India partnership call supports collaborative projects that advance innovation and commercialization in critical minerals and quantum technology sectors.
The focus areas of this call include Critical Minerals and Supply Chain Resilience, Quantum Technologies, bilateral technology innovation partnerships, applied research and development, business plans and proof of commercial concept, commercialization of technologies for societal impact, advanced innovation, higher technology readiness levels, commercialization potential, and breakthrough technologies addressing critical societal challenges.
The call aims to foster partnerships between the United States and India that accelerate the development and commercialization of transformative technologies and solutions with significant societal and economic impact.
Through a competitive grants programme, USISTEF supports promising joint U.S.-India technology innovation and entrepreneurial initiatives that are commercially viable and socially relevant.
Joint initiatives may originate from U.S. and Indian entities, including startups, government, academic, or commercial organizations, provided they focus on applied R&D, include a business plan and proof of commercial concept, and demonstrate sustainable commercial potential.
Preference will be given to technologies that demonstrate advanced levels of innovation, higher commercialization potential or technology readiness levels, and breakthrough solutions addressing critical societal challenges.
The grant provides support of up to INR 15 million (approximately USD $165,000) per project for a period of up to 24 months.
Eligible proposals must include at least one Indian and one U.S. partner for the complete duration of the project. Partners must have significant and complementary roles in developing and commercializing technologies for the proposed application.
At least one partner must be an entrepreneurial entity, preferably a small or medium-scale enterprise. Eligible participants may include incorporated companies, startups, non-incorporated entities, academic institutions, government and non-governmental research institutions, or their consortia.
Subsidiaries or spin-offs of one partner in the other country are not eligible to apply. If an academic institution, government entity, or research institution is involved, a no-objection certificate approving the participation of the Principal Investigator must be submitted with the application.
The relationship between U.S. and Indian partners must be clearly defined, including ownership of intellectual property rights for the technology being developed and commercialized. A formal Partnership Agreement must be submitted once the team is shortlisted for further review.
For more information, visit USISTEF.
