About ECIIC

"Strengthening research and promoting innovation through richer collaboration in education and training" was one of the Education Working Group's four focus topics during India's G20 Presidency. The Leaders declaration has “Reaffirm our commitment to promote open, equitable and secure scientific collaboration and encourage mobility of students, scholars, researchers, and scientists across research and higher education institutions.” 

Digital transformation, AI and other critical and emerging technologies, sustainability and green transitions are some of the areas that have been prioritized under the G20 deliberations and hence the ministry has constituted "Empowered Committee for Industry and International Collaborations (ECIIC)" led by Director, IIT Hyderabad, as a task force to coordinate with the Association of American Universities (AAU) for the India-US iCET on behalf of all Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs).

The main motive of this initiative are:

• To strengthen the Indian ecosystem in R&D and technology development through industry and international collaborations for mutual growth.

• To explore research collaborations and partnerships with international universities and research labs.

• To strengthen the Indian Ecosystem in thematic areas to become a Global lead.

• To elevate and expand strategic technology partnerships and industrial cooperation between the governments, businesses, and academic institutions between the countries either bilateral or multilateral.

• Provide the best international collaborative expertise in solving major national problems.

• Generate a significant amount of research and instructional material in the form of scholarly journal articles, textbooks, research monographs, patents, exhibits, and products co-authored by Indian and foreign partners.

• To take leverage of international partnerships and align with global best practices, it aspires to catalyze India’s journey towards becoming a technologically advanced and self-reliant nation, fully integrated into the global manufacturing and technological landscape.