The United States and India have long shared a commitment to using science to understand the world and to better the lives of our citizens.
Science, Technology, Environment, and Space
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he United States and India have long shared a commitment to using science to understand the world and to better the lives of our citizens. This dedication has been supported by our two governments; non-profit institutions such as universities, civil society, and foundations; private companies; and countless individuals in both countries. It has been built on a history of exploration and achievement by our peoples, in the case of India stretching back thousands of years. Our cooperation has drawn on a passion to protect our lands, mountains, air, rivers, and wildlife, which hold sacred meaning for many; and our natural resources, when used responsibly, can both power our development and preserve natural habitats. As our bilateral relationship has grown, so have our joint achievements in science, technology, environment, and space. Our leadership in these fields has helped advance knowledge for the global good. This leadership has been particularly visible in our cooperation on the shared waters of the Indo-
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Pacific, on global climate issues, and in space. Our collaboration has driven economic growth and improved the health of our people. The importance of our shared leadership will only grow in the coming decades as we work together to address opportunities such as artificial intelligence and space exploration, and challenges such as ensuring clean air, providing access to clean water, and protecting wildlife. A History of Science and Environmental Cooperation U.S.-India cooperation on science, technology, and the environment can be traced back to our earliest interactions in the 18th century, when merchants traveled across our shared seas to trade the fruits of our respective natural resources, agricultural practices, and knowledge of textile production. Some of the earliest Indian immigrants to the United States were sailors and dock workers who settled in Massachusetts to apply their skills laboring in the state’s harbors. In 1851, a group of Indians
