DST implementing Rs.36,000cr NM-ICPS to encourage new age technologies
Experts from the India and United States interacted to bring out the best plans for joint research projects that would be implemented through the US$430 million Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs), at DST-NSF Joint Research and Development Projects Kick-off Workshop.
“The Hubs are part of a five-year and nearly US$430 million investment by DST under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) and comprise academic researchers and industry partners,” the Ministry of Science & Technology said on 9 Aug 2022.
Further, the Department of Science & Technology (DST) is implementing Rs.36,000 crore NM-ICPS over five years to encourage innovation in new age technologies.
As part of the Mission implementation, 25 TIHs have been established in reputed institutes across the country in advanced technologies to create a strong foundation and a seamless ecosystem for Cyber-Physical Systems, leading a platform for policymakers, researchers, innovators, premier institutes, start-ups, entrepreneurs, investors, industries and global connect as well.
“The US is committed and proud to partner with India for prosperity and opportunity for all. These projects shall be aspirational and should be able to solve the societal problems,” National Science Foundation (NSF) Director Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan said after the interaction.
Six TIHs under NM-ICPS have been identified for collaborative research and development with NSF-supported institutions. These projects aim at adding the component of international collaboration to existing research projects in both countries.
The workshop was organised by IIT Delhi in association with DST to discuss how the projects to be implemented by the six TIHs identified under NM-ICPS for collaborative research and development with NSF-supported institutions would leverage unique resources, such as testbeds and datasets available in India and in the US, expand collaborations on critical technologies like AI and advanced wireless, and encourage student and researcher exchange programs.
Dr Akhilesh Gupta, Senior Adviser, DST, informed that a total of 35 joint projects have been identified which will be implemented by the Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) and research institutions from the US.
“This endeavor will further help us to achieve collaborative research and development between the two countries in the area of CPS,” he added.
Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, Indian Institute of Delhi (IIT Delhi) said that this workshop will enable linkages and build up TIH to solve problems of society.
DST-NSF have joined hands for collaborative research and development in Sept 2021 in thematic areas of Agriculture, Autonomous systems technologies and applications, Health and Environment, Rehabilitation and assistive robotics, and Smart cities covering various cyber-physical systems.
Separately, the US delegation of the premier National Science Foundation (NRF), currently on visit to India, have discussed bilateral collaboration between the two countries as well as the ways to carry this collaboration to the next level with Minister of State Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh.
During the delegation level talks, Dr Jitendra Singh noted that both the sides have already identified the sectors and collaboration is on in areas like healthcare, technology, Space, earth and ocean science, energy, emerging technologies and cooperation in Science & Technology education.
The Minister underlined that India and the United States have a long-standing connection and shared interest when it comes to scientific discovery and technological innovations and time has come to strengthen and leverage these connects for larger global good.
Dr Jitendra Singh told the NSF delegation that both sides must focus on meaningful, targeted, deliverable-driven R&D partnerships in technology areas such Quantum, Metaverse, Clean Energy Technologies, Cyber-Physical Systems, Advanced Materials and Communications Technologies.
The Minister pointed out that the Indian Scientific diaspora is one of the world’s largest and powerful diaspora communities in shaping global discourse, particularly in the technological innovation landscape.
He said that both the countries must explore avenues for the US and India to jointly identify, nurture and promote deep-tech start-ups in areas of mutual interest.
Dr Jitendra Singh also sought the support of NSF for the proposed Integrated Data System. He pointed out that data collection at present is being done by various institutions in different ways, but the Integrated Data System will go a long way in data analytics and associated benefits.
The Minister said, “The knowledge partnership with NSF-National Centre for Science and Engineering Statistics will be of great value addition in terms of long-term capacity development in this area.”
Dr Jitendra Singh also called for scaling up the cooperation in the Space sector and mainly in emerging areas like management of space debris. He also recalled that the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite is expected to be launched in 2023.
The Minister said that Science and technology education partnership has been another dimension of the outreach, to establish linkages between American and Indian institutions and students. Education Roundtable held last year with participation of a number of STEM-focused universities.
NSF Director and head of the US delegation Dr. Panchanathan assured Dr Jitendra Singh that the subjects identified in the two-day brainstorming session would be taken to logical conclusion.
He also promised to open new avenues of cooperation in areas like Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, Geosciences and Astrophysics. fiinews.com
