Indo-US Science and Technology Forum

From Vision to Prototype: Impact in South India!

Following our successful launch, the Young Innovators STEM Lab had touched down in the Chennai Consulate region! We’ve transformed classrooms into high-energy "startup studios" across Tamil Nadu and Kerala, empowering the next generation of STEM leaders to build functional solutions from scratch.

Our participants moved rapidly from ideation to ex*****on, developing impressive early-stage prototypes that tackle real-world challenges:

· Industrial Safety: Students built a WebXR-based holographic assembly guide to replace traditional paper manuals.

· Healthcare & Empathy: Teams developed "MEMORA," an AR/VR memory support companion for dementia, and a Virtual Anatomical Twin of the Human Heart for surgical training.

· Smart Living: Projects included "Homescape" for VR interior design and interactive campus navigation systems.

A sincere thank you to the U.S. Consulate General Chennai for their vital partnership in fostering this talent. We also extend our gratitude to our host institutions:

📍 SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Chennai

📍 VIT University, Chennai

📍 Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT)

Supported by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) in partnership with STEAM Varsity®, we are proud to bolster the U.S.-India TRUST initiative!

Indo-US Science and Technology Forum is pleased to announce the Awards for the 2026 IUSSTF -VITERBI PROGRAM. More Details can be accessed using: https://iusstf.org/iusstf-viterbi-program . Congratulations to all the awardees!



University of Southern California
USC Viterbi School of Engineering

Ms. Laura Williams, the U.S. Consul General in Hyderabad, visited the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), where Dr. Chaitali Bhattacharya and her technical team held meaningful discussions on the organization’s contributions to Indo-U.S. science and technology cooperation over the past 25 years. The interaction offered an opportunity to reflect on IUSSTF’s role in strengthening bilateral partnerships through joint research, innovation, and institutional linkages.

The conversation also underscored Hyderabad’s growing strengths in strategic areas such as quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, advanced materials, information technology, and clean energy. Potential avenues for deeper collaboration were explored, including structured initiatives that build on regional capabilities.

Key programs such as the United States–India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) were highlighted for their impact in promoting industry-led applied research and supporting the translation of innovation into scalable technologies.

IUSSTF looks forward to continued engagement with the U.S. Consulate in Hyderabad to further strengthen science, technology, and innovation partnerships rooted in the region’s dynamic ecosystem.

U.S. Department of State

U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad

A Stellar Conclusion to the Space Experiential Learning Center ( ) Program! 🚀✨

The stars aligned at the American Center New Delhi on January 20th as we celebrated the historic graduation of our SELC pioneers. This flagship initiative, funded by the U.S. Department of State, stands as a vital pillar of the U.S.-India TRUST framework and a testament to our shared frontiers in STEM innovation.

We were profoundly honored to have global icon and NASA astronaut Ms. Sunita Williams as our Chief Guest. Her presence was truly a dream realized, turning the ceremony into a lifetime memory for our students. In her moving address, she remarked that the potential of this young generation is "unmatched," inspiring our graduates to view the cosmos as their next destination.

We were privileged to be joined by Ms. Amy Schedlbauer, Minister-Counsellor for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy India in New Delhi and Dr. Praveen Kumar Somasundaram, Head (International Cooperation), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India (DST)—visionary leaders driving the U.S.-India S&T partnership. We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr Chaitali Bhattacharya (Executive Director- Interim, Indo-US Science and Technology Forum IUSSTF) and Ms. Adelle Gillen (Public Diplomacy Officer, American Center) for welcoming the gathering and setting an inspiring tone for the event.

A special note of thanks goes to the U.S. Consulates in Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. Your steadfast support in facilitating regional workshops ensured the program’s impact reached across India.

We are deeply grateful for the unwavering dedication of Mr. Vikas Sood and Ms. Chhaya Sharma at the American Center New Delhi, whose foundational coordination anchored the program’s operations, alongside the steadfast efforts of Ms. Priya Thomas and the IUSSTF team in streamlining the program's implementation. Furthermore, we commend Ms. Nikhitha Chadde, Ms. Isha Chhikara and the Genex Space team for their technical brilliance in translating this visionary curriculum into a high-impact, hands-on reality for India's next generation of space pioneers.

The most poignant moment arrived when students of the Astronomy and Space Club received their certificates and SELC souvenir boxes from our distinguished guests. These 63 young explorers—who have spent months building satellites and planning missions—now stand as the next generation of U.S.-India collaboration.

As we bid farewell to this cohort, we are confident their trajectories will take them to extraordinary heights. IUSSTF remains committed to empowering the scientists of tomorrow! 🌌🛰️



Indo-US Science and Technology Forum
U.S. Department of State
U.S. Embassy India
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
U.S. Consulate General Chennai
U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad
U.S. Consulate General Kolkata
U.S. Consulate General Mumbai