TRUST Fellowship Launched for India-US Research Partnership

The U.S.-India TRUST Fellowship was launched in Bengaluru in September 2026 to support collaborative research between American scholars and Indian institutions. TRUST stands for Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology, and the programme is linked to the bilateral TRUST framework announced by the United States and India in February 2025.

TRUST Framework

The TRUST framework was announced on 13 February 2025 by United States President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It replaced the earlier Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology, known as iCET, in the India-US technology partnership architecture.

Fellowship Structure

The fellowship is designed for up to 20 American postdoctoral researchers and early-career faculty members. Selected fellows will spend 12 months in collaborative research at Indian institutions.

Two stipend levels are part of the programme. Postdoctoral fellows will receive a monthly stipend of 1,650, while exceptional candidates on an assistant professor-equivalent Visiting Faculty track at IIT Madras will receive 3,650 per month.

Host Institutions and Research Areas

The designated host institutions are the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru; the Indian Institute of Technology Madras; and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education. The research areas include artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, energy, defence, and space.

Important Facts for Exams

• TRUST stands for Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology.
• The fellowship is supported by private philanthropic funding from Pratiksha Trust and Mazumdar Shaw Philanthropy.
• The U.S. Commercial Service in Bengaluru was also expanded alongside the fellowship announcement.
• IISc Bengaluru, IIT Madras, and MAHE are the three host institutions named for the programme.

The fellowship is linked to strategic technology cooperation between India and the United States. Bengaluru is the launch location for the programme and the expanded U.S. Commercial Service.