Modi-Biden Drive: Education Ministry To Set Up Indo-US Global Challenge Institutes, Says Dharmendra Pradhan

New Delhi: Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has welcomed the resolve by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden to deepen the strategic partnership between Indian and American universities.

Pradhan said that the recently-launched India-US initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) will usher in a new phase of partnership and accelerate the outcome, given the sizeable talent pool in both countries, particularly in new age technologies and the synergistic R&D centres of excellence in academic institutes.

The Joint Task Force constituted with Association of American Universities — comprising top IITs and IISc — has already started been holding discussions in this regard, informed Pradhan.

As envisioned by the two leaders, the Education Ministry will work to set up Indo-US Global Challenge Institutes to deepen research partnerships and people-to-people exchanges in areas like semiconductors, sustainable agriculture, clean energy, health and pandemic preparedness & emerging technologies.

I welcome the resolve by Hon. PM @narendraModi and @POTUS @JoeBiden to deepen the strategic partnership between Indian and American universities.

The recently launched India-US initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) will usher in a new phase of partnership, given…

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) June 23, 2023

Pradhan said that this formal partnership, with its complementary expertise and incorporation of industry collaboration and startup enablers, will facilitate free flow of ideas, student exchange and joint IPRs.

“This academic partnership will help in developing solutions for a sustainable and secure future. This is a historic moment when two strong nations are joining hands in education and research that is bound to make a global impact in the coming years,” he added.