At a time when India and the USA are stepping up the bilateral engagement on essential minerals, a high American official has visited India to operationalise cooperation between the 2 international locations in advancing analysis on this sector. Dr Tom Lograsso, director of the Essential Supplies Innovation Hub, visited Mumbai and Pune throughout February 24-28 to strengthen analysis and growth (R&D) linkages between India and the US.
The go to comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s journey to Washington on February 13, the place India and US launched the Reworking Relationship Using Strategic Expertise (TRUST) initiative, which goals to deal with the restoration and processing of essential minerals, together with lithium and uncommon earth components (REEs).
Along with the TRUST initiative, the go to additionally operationalised the Catalyzing Alternatives for Navy Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Expertise (COMPACT) initiative, additionally launched throughout PM Modi’s go to to the US.
“Dr Lograsso’s go to outlined a transparent roadmap for future cooperation, which incorporates launching a bidirectional pupil trade programme and a lab-to-lab settlement between Iowa State College, the Ames Nationwide Laboratory’s Essential Supplies Innovation Hub and Indian establishments,” a press launch by the US Consulate Common Mumbai stated.
“The go to additionally included high-level discussions with executives from a few of India’s main conglomerates, establishing partnerships to develop and license applied sciences for extra environment friendly manufacturing of essential mineral provide chains to spice up prosperity and safety,” the discharge added.
The TRUST initiative adopted India’s induction into the US-led Minerals Safety Finance Community in September final 12 months. India joined the Minerals Safety Partnership (MSP) in 2023.
Not like earlier multilateral partnerships, nevertheless, the TRUST initiative will construct on bilateral engagement. It additionally positions India and the US to speed up current efforts, and counter China’s dominance in essential minerals provide chains.
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The emphasis of the TRUST initiative on lowering limitations to expertise switch, addressing export controls, and enhancing high-tech commerce lays the groundwork for deeper coordination between India and the US within the essential minerals house.
The India-US collaboration in essential minerals and superior supplies comes after the 2 international locations introduced main nationwide programmes over the previous few years to spice up this sector – from exploration and recycling to analysis and growth (R&D) in processing applied sciences. In 2020, the US Vitality Act authorised $675 million for the Essential Minerals and Supplies (CMM) programme to diversify and increase provide chains and construct a round financial system.
The US additionally launched the Battery and Essential Mineral Recycling programme in 2024, with grants value $125 million for R&D to extend the reuse and recycling of batteries.
And in January, India accepted the Nationwide Essential Minerals Mission with a budgetary outlay of Rs 16,300 crore over seven years, of which roughly Rs 7,000 crore is allotted for exploration of essential minerals.
