Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Barack Obama , in their bilateral talks held on Tuesday at the White House, stated that India and the U.S. will renew their Science and Technology Agreement to explore innovative technologies.
In a joint statement released by both nations, Prime Minister Modi and President Obama agreed that fundamental science and high technology cooperation has been a critical pillar of the strategic partnership. The two leaders stated that they looked forward to renewing the Science and Technology Agreement in order to expand joint activities in innovative technology.
Further, Prime Minister Modi welcomed the United States as a partner country at India’s annual Technology Summit in November 2014. In addition, the two leaders committed to convene the ninth High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG) and declared plans to launch new partnerships to source and scale innovation for the benefit of citizens in both countries and to harness innovation to solve global development challenges.
President Obama welcomed India’s contribution and cooperation on high-energy physics and accelerator research and development with the U.S. Department of Energy and thanked Prime Minister Modi for his offer to have U.S. institutions partner with a new Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).
Prime Minister Modi and President Obama also affirmed their commitment to partner on the Digital India initiative, with the goal of enhancing digital infrastructure, deploying e-governance and e-services, promoting industry collaboration, and digitally empowering India’s citizens.
President Obama welcomed India’s proposal to establish the Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN, or Knowledge), under which India would invite and host up to one thousand American academics each year to teach in centrally-recognized Indian universities, at their convenience.
Prime Minister Modi, who was on a five-day visit to the U.S., left for New Delhi on Tuesday evening.
—ANI