Indo-US Science and Technology Forum

18/09/2026

The Young Innovators STEM Lab ( )—a nationwide educational initiative supported by the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Department of State in New Delhi and implemented by the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum ( ) in partnership with STEAM Varsity®—recently made its way to Kolkata.

Hosted on September 8, 2026, by the Dr. Sudhir Chandra Sur Institute of Technology & Sports Complex (SURTECH)—a JIS Group Educational Initiative—in coordination with the JIS Drone Academy (RPTO), the one-day hands-on workshop brought together 140 students from SurTech and across the JIS Group to dive into Augmented & Virtual Reality ( / ), , and Stanford d.school Design Thinking.

The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Chaitali Bhattacharya (Executive Director, IUSSTF), Prof. (Dr.) Saradindu Panda (Principal, SURTECH), and Dr. Soumen Basu (Registrar, SURTECH), alongside Priya Thomas (Senior Program Officer, IUSSTF) and Dharam Raj Panwar (Co-Founder, STEAM Varsity).

20 student teams mastered WebVR frameworks, HTML/CSS/JS, and GitHub deployment, testing their immersive environments on Meta Quest headsets.
Participants applied empathy-driven design principles to build functional prototypes and presented 2-minute innovation pitches. Some of the Student Prototypes include:
- Sundarban VR & Kolkata Ganges Riverfront VR: Cultural and natural heritage preservation
- Glacier Sentinel VR: Immersive environmental tracking
- NCC Defence VR Forge: Specialized tactical & defense simulation
- Shubho Bijoya VR: Virtual Kolkata Puja Mela experience
- Rain-Shield VR, Tram Ride VR, Moon VR, & Haunted VR

By bridging technical coding with creative problem-solving, YISL continues to cultivate interdisciplinary collaboration and entrepreneurial thinking among India's future leaders.

The event garnered widespread media recognition for its impact!
Print Coverage: The Telegraph India, The Statesman, Eastern Chronicle, Aajkaal, Prabhat Khabar, Dainik Vishwamitra, TAASIR NEWSPAPER
Digital Media: News Nation 360, Vastab Katha, Content Media Solutions

10/09/2026

🚀 Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators Across Bihar!

The Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), U.S. Embassy India in New Delhi, and STEAM Varsity® in collaboration with the Incubation Centre IIT Patna (IC IITP), successfully organized the Young Innovators STEM Lab ( ) Workshop on September 1–2, 2026.

The two-day event commenced with an inspiring inaugural session featuring Prof. T. N. Singh (Director, Indian Institute of Technology Patna), Dr. Chaitali Bhattacharya (Executive Director-Interim, IUSSTF), and Dr. Pramod Kumar Tiwari (Professor In-Charge & Secretary, IC IITP). Addressing the young minds, the dignitaries underscored the importance of innovation and encouraged students to harness their capabilities to develop technology-driven solutions addressing real-world and local challenges impacting society. They also emphasised the United States’ commitment to empower India’s young minds by fostering innovation and building capabilities in critical and emerging technologies, in alignment with the objectives of the TRUST initiative.

The workshop brought together ~224 students from IIT Patna as well as neighbouring institutions across Bihar (including DCE Darbhanga, NSIT Bihta, MCE Motihari, GEC Vaishali, NIELIT Patna, and more). The Participants formed 31 multidisciplinary teams and engaged in an experiential Startup Studio model focusing on Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Design Thinking.

Some of the Prototype Ideas included:

o UNTABOO VR: An immersive educational platform for discussing sensitive social and health topics in a safe environment.

o BuildSafe VR: A virtual safety training simulation for construction and industrial worksites.

o FloodGuard: A VR preparedness and emergency response simulator for floods and severe weather events.

o SAFETY ROUTE: An interactive navigation tool designed to enhance public security using spatial visual routing.

o TIME-SHADOW XR: An Extended Reality concept using temporal visual overlays for interactive storytelling and technical modelling.

o Food Waste Management: An interactive design solution to model sustainable food supply chains and minimize waste.

o Immersive Career Exploration Platform: A VR environment allowing students to virtually shadow professionals and explore tech careers.

A heartfelt thank you to all the dignitaries, mentors, and student innovators for making this two-day initiative a resounding success! 🌟

02/09/2026

Official Announcement: Request for Proposals (RFP) for Statutory Auditors

The Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) is inviting detailed proposals from eligible practicing Chartered Accountant firms to serve as Statutory Auditors for the Financial Years 2026–27 through 2028–29.

Scope & Eligibility Highlights:

Experience in auditing binational entities, multinational non-profits, or Section 8 companies.

Experience with government-established autonomous bodies and projects funded by multilateral agencies (World Bank, UN, etc.).

🗓 Last Date for Submission: 15th September 2026

Review the full RFP, eligibility criteria, and application details here:
👉

The Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) established under an agreement between the Governments of India and the United States of America in March 2000, is an autonomous bilateral organization jointly funded by both the Governments that promotes Science, Technology, Engineering and Innova...

25/08/2026

⏳ Reminder! Only 6 Days Left!

Don't miss the chance to submit your proposal for the USISTEF call on “Building U.S.–India Partnerships to Drive Innovation in Critical Minerals and Quantum Technology”!

📅 Extended Deadline: 31 August 2026

🔗 Apply Here: https://lnkd.in/gy7Sr96i

Apply Now! 🚨

Great news! The Application Submission Deadline has been extended to 31 August 2026 for the call on:

🔹 “Building U.S.–India Partnerships to Drive Innovation in Critical Minerals and Quantum Technology”

In alignment with the U.S.–India TRUST initiative and the Pax Silica Framework, this program is designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of transformative, high-impact solutions.

🔬 Key Thematic Areas:
Critical Minerals & Supply Chain Resilience: Powering advanced manufacturing, semiconductor production, and the global clean energy transition.
Quantum Technologies: Revolutionizing computing, cybersecurity, sensing, and communications to strengthen global technological leadership.

🔗 Learn more & apply here: https://lnkd.in/gy7Sr96i
Don’t miss this opportunity. Submit your proposals now!

Indo-US Science and Technology Forum
Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
U.S. Embassy India
U.S. Department of State

15/08/2026

Greetings from Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) on the occasion of Independence Day! Today, we celebrate the spirit of freedom, resilience, and innovation that drives our nation forward.

IUSSTF remains committed to strengthening the bond between India and the U.S. through science, technology, and innovation.

Department of Science and Technology, Government of India

U.S. Department of State

U.S. Embassy India

14/08/2026

⏳ Reminder!

Only a few days left to apply for the call on “Building U.S.–India Partnerships to Drive Innovation in Critical Minerals and Quantum Technology”!
📅 Deadline: 31 August 2026

https://lnkd.in/gy7Sr96i

Don’t miss out! Hurry, Apply Now!

Indo-US Science and Technology Forum
Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
U.S. Embassy India

Apply Now! 🚨

Great news! The Application Submission Deadline has been extended to 31 August 2026 for the call on:

🔹 “Building U.S.–India Partnerships to Drive Innovation in Critical Minerals and Quantum Technology”

In alignment with the U.S.–India TRUST initiative and the Pax Silica Framework, this program is designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of transformative, high-impact solutions.

🔬 Key Thematic Areas:
Critical Minerals & Supply Chain Resilience: Powering advanced manufacturing, semiconductor production, and the global clean energy transition.
Quantum Technologies: Revolutionizing computing, cybersecurity, sensing, and communications to strengthen global technological leadership.

🔗 Learn more & apply here: https://lnkd.in/gy7Sr96i
Don’t miss this opportunity. Submit your proposals now!

Indo-US Science and Technology Forum
Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
U.S. Embassy India
U.S. Department of State

12/08/2026

The 14th workshop of the nationwide Young Innovators STEM Lab ( ) series successfully concluded at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, bringing immersive technology directly to South Goa youth!

Inaugurated by PWD Minister Shri Digambar V. Kamat, the event highlighted the power of ambition, continuous learning, and clear goals. In his keynote address, he remarked: "Every big achievement begins with a single step, clear ambition, and an unyielding commitment to learning. Technology like AR and VR is not just about cool gadgets—it is a powerful medium to solve real human problems. I encourage our young minds in Goa to aim high, stay curious, and use platforms like YISL to turn their dreams into impactful solutions for society!"

Underscoring the core mission of the mobile labs, Dr. Chaitali Bhattacharya added, "YISL is not just a training workshop; it is a platform designed to ignite curiosity and foster an entrepreneurial mindset. The enthusiasm, teamwork, and creative problem-solving demonstrated by the participating students in South Goa prove that experiential STEM education is the key to building tomorrow's tech leaders."

A strategic initiative by the U.S. Department of State, YISL provides exposure to AR, VR, rapid prototyping, and American tech frameworks—building a talent pipeline for U.S. higher education and research partnerships. Students spent the day building WebXR environments, hosting them on GitHub, testing them on Meta Quest headsets, and pitching spatial prototypes—including interactive ocean cleanup simulations for marine conservation and digital twins designed to preserve local Goan cultural heritage.

We extend our gratitude to the Goa State Council for Science and Technology (GSCST), the Department of Science and Technology (Government of Goa), and the Centre for Incubation and Business Acceleration (CIBA) for their support and coordination.

10/08/2026

The Young Innovators STEM Lab ( ) series marked its 13th workshop at Ravindra Bhavan, Sanquelim, Goa!

The workshop was inaugurated by the Honorable Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant, who encouraged students to embrace practical innovation. Highlighting research, skills, creativity, and innovation as the four pillars of Viksit Bharat 2047, he urged young minds to leverage expanding India–U.S. technology partnerships and transition from technology users to technology creators.

Outlining the vision behind the initiative, Dr Chaitali Bhattacharya emphasized the strategic intent of bringing the mobile lab to Goa, showcasing cutting-edge U.S. technology to talented Indian youth.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State's Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Embassy India, New Delhi and implemented by Indo-US Science and Technology Forum in partnership with STEAM Varsity®, YISL delivers experiential, U.S.-style "Learning-by-Doing" mobile labs. Introducing students to AR/VR, rapid prototyping, and design thinking gives young innovators early exposure to American software frameworks and hardware platforms. This builds a future-ready talent pipeline connected to U.S. higher education and research partnerships while advancing shared values for trusted technology infrastructure across a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific.

During the hands-on lab, students configured Visual Studio Code, built 3D virtual scenes, published code on GitHub, and experienced their creations on Meta Quest VR headsets. Teams applied the Stanford d. School Design Thinking framework to build real-world prototypes—such as AgriVerse AI, an interactive smart farm monitoring system combining AI, AR overlays, and a VR Digital Twin to enable real-time soil health tracking, smart irrigation, and early crop disease detection!

Sincere thanks to our support partners—the Goa State Council for Science and Technology (GSCST), the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Goa, and the Sankhali Engineers Association (SEA)—for their venue support.

Together, we are operationalizing the U.S.-India TRUST Initiative and the U.S.-India COMPACT for the 21st Century.

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24/07/2026

The Young Innovators STEM Lab ( ) marked a major milestone this week as we successfully completed our 11th and 12th regional workshops in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh! Building on the momentum of 10 impactful sessions across India, YISL continues to empower young minds to transition from theoretical concepts to functional, real-world solutions.

On July 21 at Amity University Lucknow Campus, and July 22 at the SR GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS LUCKNOW (SRGI), students dived into hands-on AR/VR development, turning bold ideas into impressive, early-stage prototypes.

Student Prototype Standouts:
· ♿ Accessibility & Inclusion: AR/VR-based learning aids designed specifically for individuals with disabilities.
· 🏛️ Cultural Heritage: Immersive digital twins tracking the evolution and development of historical sites over time.
· ♻️ Sustainability: Interactive modules for waste management and environmental awareness.
· 🧠 Mental Health: Immersive stress-management tools and wellness simulators.

We were honored to have distinguished leadership present during these sessions, including Dr Chaitali Bhattacharya (Interim Executive Director, IUSSTF), and Mr. Vikas Sood (U.S. Embassy India, New Delhi).

During the visit, the IUSSTF team had the privilege of engaging with the key leadership from both host institutions. At Amity University Lucknow Campus, we extend our sincere gratitude to Prof (Dr) Anil Vashisht (Pro Vice Chancellor), Wg. Cdr. (Dr) Anil Kumar (Retd.) (Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor), and the Amity Innovation Incubator Lucknow, with a special, huge thanks to Mr. Sanyam Dhingra for his pivotal role in making this workshop possible. At the SR Group of Institutions (SRGI), our sincere thanks go to Dr. Singh (Director, SRGI), Mr. kaushal chandra Raghuvanshi (Head of Training & Placement), and the entire Training and Placement Team for their exceptional coordination and support.

Most importantly, a big shoutout to the students for their boundless energy, creativity, and enthusiastic participation!

Supported by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by Indo-US Science and Technology Forum in partnership with STEAM Varsity®, YISL remains dedicated to expanding access to critical and emerging technologies across India. The journey continues—stay tuned for our next stop! 🌐

Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gF2MZ8zB

24/07/2026

Apply Now! 🚨

Great news! The Application Submission Deadline has been extended to 31 August 2026 for the call on:

🔹 “Building U.S.–India Partnerships to Drive Innovation in Critical Minerals and Quantum Technology”

In alignment with the U.S.–India TRUST initiative and the Pax Silica Framework, this program is designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of transformative, high-impact solutions.

🔬 Key Thematic Areas:
Critical Minerals & Supply Chain Resilience: Powering advanced manufacturing, semiconductor production, and the global clean energy transition.
Quantum Technologies: Revolutionizing computing, cybersecurity, sensing, and communications to strengthen global technological leadership.

🔗 Learn more & apply here: https://lnkd.in/gy7Sr96i
Don’t miss this opportunity. Submit your proposals now!

Indo-US Science and Technology Forum
Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
U.S. Embassy India
U.S. Department of State