Can Indian and U.S. Ingenuity Lead the World to Clean Energy Solutions?

Last week, India and the United States crossed another significant milestone in their efforts to create a clean energy future for their citizens and the rest of the world. Both countries announced an unprecedented funding opportunity for joint, collaborative research in three critical fields: solar energy, second-generation biofuels, and energy efficiency in buildings. Together, India and the U.S. are contributing $50 million across these three fields, over five years, to fund transformative, cutting-edge research and development (R&D). Another $50 million is expected in matching funds from participating entities, raising the total level of funding to $100 million. This is a much larger sum than many X-Prize awards! Thus, the money for game-changing clean energy science is out there and ready to be awarded – what is needed now is interest and initiative from the scientific community in both countries. Let’s spread the word.

The transformative research will be facilitated by the U.S.-India Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Center, which was established in November 2010 by U.S. President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. It will be conducted by leaders in science from both countries – including national laboratories, clean tech entrepreneurs, private sector companies, academics, non-governmental organizations, industry groups and others - drawn together into three consortia (one for each of the three fields). Public-Private partnerships have been increasingly successful business models in recent years, but the coming together of multiple public and private entities from two countries, including potential competitors,  for the purpose of undertaking basic R&D is a unique and creative element of the Clean Energy Center.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is a first-of-its kind effort by India and the U.S., but is a natural venture by two nations known for their prodigious scientific output. Both countries have a rich history of academic rigor, technological innovation and the kind of business enterprise that allows new ideas to move rapidly from germination to deployment. Both countries are also keenly focused on energy security – from a view to reducing their own dependence on foreign oil, and to lead the world in the fight against climate change. The three priority areas for this research have been well-chosen, since solar energy, biofuels, and building energy efficiency have extremely high potential for scalability and market-transformation in India and the U.S. They also have the potential to create new green jobs in both countries, providing a welcome boost to both economies.

Details on eligibility, application procedures, team arrangements, award size, cost sharing and other requirements are available on the U.S. Department of Energy’s website, as well as on the website of the Indian coordinating agency, the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum. Entities that wish to team up into a consortium and apply for the grants must do so by August 16, 2011. NRDC, alongwith the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) Initiative will be working encourage the best talent in both countries to maximize this opportunity.

In the past, the coming together of Indian and U.S. scientific expertise resulted in Nobel Prizes in the fields of medicine, physics, mathematics and chemistry. Today, this new, innovative model for joint R&D has the potential to catalyze similar breakthroughs in clean energy science and give India and the U.S. a firm lead in the race for low carbon economic growth. May the best minds apply!

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