WASHINGTON: The India-U.S. Technology Summit presents a "unique opportunity" for both countries to showcase how technology and innovation partnerships can meaningfully change lives, a top American diplomat has said.

"The India-U.S. Technology Summit, taking place next week in New Delhi, represents a unique opportunity for both countries to showcase how technology and innovation partnerships -- both between our governments and our private sectors - can meaningfully change the lives of every single person on Earth," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Biswal said.

"Ours is truly a partnership for the people and centuries to come," Biswal wrote on the Indiaspora website.

Being held in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industries, the India U.S. Technology Summit on November 18 and 19 aims at providing a platform to industries, institutions and government agencies from the two countries to exchange ideas, showcase their expertise and forge new partnerships to increase trade and investment in the knowledge sector.

John Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Co-Chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), will lead the U.S. delegation to the Summit.

"We can accomplish far more together if our best and brightest from industry, academia, and laboratories are connected and coordinated," Biswal said.

"By fostering linkages between industry, research, and government in India and the United States, we hope this Summit will encourage innovative partnerships. Such joint ventures have the potential to generate economic growth and jobs, helping people live longer and healthier lives, and finding solutions to global development challenges," she said.

"Our work in the energy sector is a perfect illustration of the potential impact of the partnerships that we hope will take root at, and be strengthened by the Summit," Biswal said, adding that there are over 400 million people in India who are not connected to reliable electrical grids.

To address this pressing problem, she pointed out that the United States government has launched the Off-Grid Alliance, which will enhance access to financing and the certification of off-grid technology.

"While this is an important step forward, we urgently need help in identifying sustainable market solutions to these energy challenges," Biswal wrote.

"The convergence of hundreds of innovators, researchers, academics and government officials at the Summit next week, presents an incredible opportunity for these leaders to join together to address critical issues in the energy sector, as well as so many other areas," she said.

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