Yale’s vice provost for research, Michael Crair, traveled to India as part of a delegation led by Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, aimed at strengthening economic and academic ties between Connecticut and India. Yale’s participation underscored the university’s commitment to fostering global research collaborations and deepening academic partnerships in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
From February 23 to March 1, the delegation met with leaders from the Indian government and prominent businesses in Chennai, Bangalore, and Mumbai. Accompanying Lamont were Connecticut Economic and Community Development Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe, Connecticut Innovations CEO Matthew McCooe, former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi (SOM ’80), and University of Connecticut President Radenka Maric.
Crair, the William Ziegler III Professor of Neuroscience and professor of ophthalmology and visual science, engaged with leading researchers and academics across the three cities. Along with Kasturi Gupta, Yale’s director for South Asia and Southeast Asia at the Office of International Affairs, Crair met with over a dozen scholars focused on quantum computing. Discussions centered on potential research collaborations, faculty exchanges, and joint initiatives between Yale and leading Indian institutions, including the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and Raman Research Institute.
“Traveling to India as part of Governor Lamont’s delegation provided a unique opportunity to engage with leading researchers at the forefront of quantum computing,” said Crair. “My discussions with experts at these institutions offered important insights into shared research priorities and highlighted the potential for meaningful academic collaboration. We also explored how Yale’s work in quantum information science can intersect with the growing economic development opportunities around quantum technology companies in both India and Connecticut. I look forward to exploring ways to deepen these connections in the future.”
India represents an increasingly significant academic and research partner for Yale. Students and scholars from India comprise the second-largest international group at the university, reflecting a longstanding exchange of knowledge and collaboration that continues to grow through joint research initiatives, faculty partnerships, and student engagement.
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_To learn more about Yale and South Asia,_ [_visit the Yale and the World website_](https://world.yale.edu/region/south-asia)_._