U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor officially launched the TRUST Fellowship, a new public-private research initiative aimed at strengthening technology cooperation between the United States and India.

The fellowship will bring together U.S. and Indian researchers to work on critical technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, and biotechnology.

It would support 12-month collaborative research projects involving U.S. postdoctoral researchers, and early-career faculty at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru, and Manipal Academy of Higher Education.

Mr. Gor, while speaking as he marked the 250th anniversary of American independence at a National Day reception here, said the fellowship would help attract more researchers and accelerate the translation of research breakthroughs into commercial applications.

He also announced an expansion of the U.S. Commercial Service presence in Bengaluru to provide American companies with export counselling, market intelligence and connections with local partners as they seek to expand in South India.

Highlighting the broader strategic relationship, Mr. Gor pointed to cooperation in space, including joint missions and discussions on lunar exploration, as an indication of the growing scope of U.S.-India ties.

The celebrations saw several Bengaluru landmarks, including Vidhana Soudha and the IISc main building, illuminated in red, white, and blue.