Dharmendra Pradhan: iCET likely to focous in new phase of partnership between US and India

The recently launched India-US initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) is likely to usher in a new phase of partnership and accelerate the outcome given the sizeable talent pool in India and the US, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Friday.

He welcomed the resolve by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden to deepen the strategic partnership between Indian and American universities.

The minister noted that the joint task force constituted with the Association of American Universities comprising of top IITs and IISc has been holding discussions in this regard.

Announced during US President Joe Biden and Modi’s bilateral talks in Tokyo in May last year, the iCET is spearheaded by the National Security Councils of both countries. It focuses on strengthening the US-India partnership on the technologies that will drive global growth, bolster both countries’ economic competitiveness, and protect shared national security interests.