Indo-US Science and Technology Forum

🚀 USISTEF New Call for Proposals is Coming Soon!

The United States–India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) invites innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, and technology leaders to collaborate on transformative solutions under the thematic priorities:

🔹 Critical Minerals & Supply Chain Resilience

🔹 Quantum Technologies

📢 Application Portal Opens: 15 June 2026 — Stay Tuned!

Be a part of advancing Indo-U.S. innovation partnerships that drive impactful scientific and technological solutions for the future.

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

🎥 Watch the announcement video: https://iusstf.org/home -video-banner-1

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

The January 2026 Edition of IUSTSF Connect Newsletter is here! As we celebrated 25 years of the Indo U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), this issue spotlights the groundbreaking shift of AI from the laboratory to real-world medical applications.

In this edition, we dive into how bilateral collaboration is moving the needle on global health equity:

Cover Story: AI in Healthcare 🏥 – Discover how United States India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) - supported projects are deploying portable, AI-enabled tools for oral cancer screening and integrated lung health care to reach underserved communities.

Transforming Clinical Diagnostics 🩺 – Learn from a mentor-mentee duo at University of California, San Francisco about an AI pipeline that turns standard CT scans into real-time triage tools for pulmonary embolism.

Inspiring Future Innovators 🌌 – Revisit the year-long journey of the Space Experiential Learning Center ( ), where high school students engaged in hands-on STEM education alongside experts like astronaut Sunita Williams.

Sustainability in Action ☀️ – Celebrating five years of Solar Decathlon India (SDI), an initiative embedding climate action and design thinking into the next generation’s education.

Looking ahead, we are thrilled to announce the Young Innovators STEM Lab, a new initiative using AR and VR to empower the next generation of scientists.

Together, these stories reflect a shared vision of leveraging technology for meaningful, inclusive, and lasting impact.

📖 Read the full issue here: https://iusstf.org/documents/35627/42091/Connect%20January%202026_FINAL%20(1)

Indo-US Science and Technology Forum

Department of Science and Technology, Government of India

U.S. Department of State

U.S. Embassy India

American Center New Delhi

SDI

Department of Biotechnology, India

Innovating Across Borders: hashtag Scales Up in the Hyderabad Consulate Region!

The Young Innovators STEM Lab (hashtag ) continues its rapid expansion, bringing "Startup Studio" environments to the innovation corridors of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh! We are bridging the gap between theory and practice by turning students into tech founders.

The creativity on display was exceptional, with students building functional AR/VR prototypes tailored to complex academic and social needs:
· Engineering & Career: Participants developed the "Time-Travel Circuit Debugger" to visualize signals and an AI-driven "Interactive Interview Simulator" to help peers conquer career anxiety.
· Advanced Visualization: Students built functional AR/VR tools for complex mathematics and engineering simulations.
· Social Impact: Creative solutions included immersive AR/VR-based self-defense training modules.

We are deeply grateful to the U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad for their incredible support and engagement. Special thanks to our host institutions for providing the infrastructure for this transformation:
📍 KIIT - Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar
📍 DAV PUBLIC SCHOOL, BHUBANESWAR
📍 SRM University - AP, Andhra Pradesh
📍 RGUKT (IIIT) Nuzvid

The journey continues! Stay tuned as the YISL mobile lab moves to its next destination.
Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gF2MZ8zB



Indo-US Science and Technology Forum
U.S. Department of State
STEAM Varsity®

From Vision to Prototype: Impact in South India!

Following our successful launch, the Young Innovators STEM Lab had touched down in the Chennai Consulate region! We’ve transformed classrooms into high-energy "startup studios" across Tamil Nadu and Kerala, empowering the next generation of STEM leaders to build functional solutions from scratch.

Our participants moved rapidly from ideation to ex*****on, developing impressive early-stage prototypes that tackle real-world challenges:

· Industrial Safety: Students built a WebXR-based holographic assembly guide to replace traditional paper manuals.

· Healthcare & Empathy: Teams developed "MEMORA," an AR/VR memory support companion for dementia, and a Virtual Anatomical Twin of the Human Heart for surgical training.

· Smart Living: Projects included "Homescape" for VR interior design and interactive campus navigation systems.

A sincere thank you to the U.S. Consulate General Chennai for their vital partnership in fostering this talent. We also extend our gratitude to our host institutions:

📍 SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Chennai

📍 VIT University, Chennai

📍 Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT)

Supported by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) in partnership with STEAM Varsity®, we are proud to bolster the U.S.-India TRUST initiative!

Indo-US Science and Technology Forum is pleased to announce the Awards for the 2026 IUSSTF -VITERBI PROGRAM. More Details can be accessed using: https://iusstf.org/iusstf-viterbi-program . Congratulations to all the awardees!



University of Southern California
USC Viterbi School of Engineering

Ms. Laura Williams, the U.S. Consul General in Hyderabad, visited the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), where Dr. Chaitali Bhattacharya and her technical team held meaningful discussions on the organization’s contributions to Indo-U.S. science and technology cooperation over the past 25 years. The interaction offered an opportunity to reflect on IUSSTF’s role in strengthening bilateral partnerships through joint research, innovation, and institutional linkages.

The conversation also underscored Hyderabad’s growing strengths in strategic areas such as quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, advanced materials, information technology, and clean energy. Potential avenues for deeper collaboration were explored, including structured initiatives that build on regional capabilities.

Key programs such as the United States–India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) were highlighted for their impact in promoting industry-led applied research and supporting the translation of innovation into scalable technologies.

IUSSTF looks forward to continued engagement with the U.S. Consulate in Hyderabad to further strengthen science, technology, and innovation partnerships rooted in the region’s dynamic ecosystem.

U.S. Department of State

U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad

We are proud to announce the launch of a new program initiative being implemented - Young Innovators STEM Lab ( )—a premier technology-enabled mobile initiative designed to transform Indian classrooms into high-energy "Startup Studios", where 6,000 students across the country will gain specialised expertise in Emerging Technologies like Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality.

Supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Public Diplomacy Section in New Delhi and implemented by the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum( ) in partnership with STEAM Varsity®, YISL highlights American Excellence in STEM and directly bolsters the U.S.-India TRUST initiative by strengthening bilateral cooperation in science and technology. The program is open to students aged 13–21 who possess a strong interest in STEM fields and a commitment to innovation.

Our high-energy Kick-Off Event at the American Center New Delhi brought together institutional heads, incubators, and AR/VR enthusiasts for an afternoon of immersive innovation. The program opened with a warm welcome from Dr. Chaitali Bhattacharya , Interim Executive Director of IUSSTF, followed by insights on interdisciplinary STEAM education from Mr. Dharam Raj Panwar, Co-Founder of STEAM Varsity. Ms. Miquela Burke, Regional Public Engagement Specialist, delivered a powerful Inaugural Address on the role of American Spaces in fostering global talent, and Mr. Shubham Gupta from the Atal Innovation Mission (NITI Aayog ) inspired the audience with a keynote on empowering young changemakers. The event concluded with a live Tech Demo and student showcases, demonstrating how, students are moving beyond theoretical knowledge to "Learn by Doing" and solve real-world problems.

Visit https://iusstf.org/young-innovators-stem-lab-empowering-future-partners-to-the-usa for more information on the program and upcoming workshops.
Stay tuned for updates on our YISL workshops currently being conducted at premier institutions in Chennai!

A Stellar Conclusion to the Space Experiential Learning Center ( ) Program! 🚀✨

The stars aligned at the American Center New Delhi on January 20th as we celebrated the historic graduation of our SELC pioneers. This flagship initiative, funded by the U.S. Department of State, stands as a vital pillar of the U.S.-India TRUST framework and a testament to our shared frontiers in STEM innovation.

We were profoundly honored to have global icon and NASA astronaut Ms. Sunita Williams as our Chief Guest. Her presence was truly a dream realized, turning the ceremony into a lifetime memory for our students. In her moving address, she remarked that the potential of this young generation is "unmatched," inspiring our graduates to view the cosmos as their next destination.

We were privileged to be joined by Ms. Amy Schedlbauer, Minister-Counsellor for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy India in New Delhi and Dr. Praveen Kumar Somasundaram, Head (International Cooperation), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India (DST)—visionary leaders driving the U.S.-India S&T partnership. We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr Chaitali Bhattacharya (Executive Director- Interim, Indo-US Science and Technology Forum IUSSTF) and Ms. Adelle Gillen (Public Diplomacy Officer, American Center) for welcoming the gathering and setting an inspiring tone for the event.

A special note of thanks goes to the U.S. Consulates in Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. Your steadfast support in facilitating regional workshops ensured the program’s impact reached across India.

We are deeply grateful for the unwavering dedication of Mr. Vikas Sood and Ms. Chhaya Sharma at the American Center New Delhi, whose foundational coordination anchored the program’s operations, alongside the steadfast efforts of Ms. Priya Thomas and the IUSSTF team in streamlining the program's implementation. Furthermore, we commend Ms. Nikhitha Chadde, Ms. Isha Chhikara and the Genex Space team for their technical brilliance in translating this visionary curriculum into a high-impact, hands-on reality for India's next generation of space pioneers.

The most poignant moment arrived when students of the Astronomy and Space Club received their certificates and SELC souvenir boxes from our distinguished guests. These 63 young explorers—who have spent months building satellites and planning missions—now stand as the next generation of U.S.-India collaboration.

As we bid farewell to this cohort, we are confident their trajectories will take them to extraordinary heights. IUSSTF remains committed to empowering the scientists of tomorrow! 🌌🛰️



Indo-US Science and Technology Forum
U.S. Department of State
U.S. Embassy India
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
U.S. Consulate General Chennai
U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad
U.S. Consulate General Kolkata
U.S. Consulate General Mumbai