Recognizing the success of the first phase of the JCERDC Program, the United States and India agreed to extend and expand the program and launched a new track on Smart Grid and Energy Storage. Both nations have long emphasized the critical importance of expanding clean energy research, development, manufacturing and deployment, which increases energy access and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

After an intensive multi-level review, a consortium titled “UI-ASSIST: U.S.-India collAborative for smart diStribution System wIth Storage” was selected for award in September 2017. The team is led by Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and Washington State University, Pullman.




Within the UI-ASSIST team there are nine universities, three research institutes/labs, eight power utilities and ten power industry manufacturers/vendors. Together they address large global strategic needs in both India and the United States in mitigating climate change; ensuring mutual energy security; and building clean energy economies that drive investment, job creation, and economic growth. The team aims at developing and aligning these core priorities for relevant and impactful work that will fulfill deliverables set up by the funding agencies.     

The first joint meeting of the project was held on 2^nd and 3^rd August 2018 at Portland. The Lead Indian and U.S. Partners of the consortium came together to celebrate the theme, Creating Connections, emphasizing the collaborative benefits that are generated from close cooperation among Indian and U.S. teams.