Today, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) and the University of Chicago have announced a new science and technology partnership that aims to promote cooperation in various fields. This partnership will focus on areas such as quantum information science, climate and energy, advanced microelectronics, artificial intelligence, and data science. Additionally, IIT Bombay has joined the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) based at the University of Chicago as an international partner.
The announcement of this partnership was highlighted during a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit in New Delhi, India. This collaboration between UChicago and IIT Bombay aligns with the goals of the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), which seeks to elevate and expand the strategic partnership between the two countries’ governments, companies, and academic institutions.
Juan de Pablo, professor of Molecular Engineering at UChicago, emphasized the importance of global partnerships in conducting groundbreaking research at the forefront of knowledge. He stated that this agreement with IIT Bombay is crucial not only for expanding collaborative efforts in new technologies but also for nurturing future talent in these fields.
As one of only five international partners, IIT Bombay’s inclusion in CQE further strengthens its position as a leading institution in quantum research. The CQE serves as an intellectual center for advancing quantum information science and engineering. Headquartered at UChicago, it is anchored by Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, along with other prominent universities such as the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Northwestern University.
This recent partnership announcement follows UChicago’s previous quantum-focused collaborations in Japan. One notable achievement was a partnership between UChicago, the University of Tokyo, IBM, and Google to build the world’s first quantum supercomputer—a significant milestone among G7 nations. Another collaboration was established with Tohoku University to accelerate quantum research. IIT Bombay, on the other hand, anchors the Center for Quantum Information Computing Science and Technology (QuICST), one of India’s leading quantum research centers.
David Awschalom, Liew Family Professor of Molecular Engineering at UChicago and director of the Chicago Quantum Exchange, emphasized the importance of strong global partnerships in advancing breakthrough innovation. He expressed excitement about collaborating with IIT Bombay in such a meaningful way.
Along with to quantum research, UChicago and IIT Bombay will also collaborate on joint projects and research activities in fields such as climate, energy, advanced microelectronics, artificial intelligence, and data science. This partnership will involve a series of joint conferences, information exchanges, as well as visits by professors and academics from both institutions.
For UChicago researchers visiting India, the University Center in Delhi—established in 2014—will serve as a valuable resource for facilitating collaborations with Indian counterparts.
Supratik Guha, faculty director of the Delhi Center at UChicago and professor at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and senior advisor for Physical Sciences and Argonne National Laboratory Engineering highlighted their goal of strengthening collaboration between US and Indian counterparts in science, technology, and engineering. He views this partnership with IIT Bombay as an excellent opportunity to foster shared scientific knowledge between the two countries.
According to an inside source(1), this new partnership between UChicago and IIT Bombay holds immense potential for advancing scientific research across various disciplines. By combining their expertise and resources through international collaboration, these institutions aim to drive breakthrough innovation that can address pressing global challenges while nurturing future talent in emerging fields.
(1) According to an inside Source: uchicago
