The center is a collaborative effort of seven major universities and research institutes in India and USA. Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (Pune), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (Mumbai), Indian Institute Of Science Education and Research (Thiruvananthapuram), University of Delhi (Delhi), Chennai Mathematical Institute (Siruseri) are the Indian partners, and California Institute of Technology (Pasadena) and Washington State University (Pullman) are the US partners. The center is fully funded by the IUSSTF. IUCAA serves as the nodal center.

The major aims of the joint center would be to help initiate cutting edge research in experimental GW physics, facilitate theoretical studies investigating the science potential of upcoming GW detector networks and train students and young scientists in different aspects of GW astronomy (with special focus on the experimental aspects). Over the course of next two years, the center will facilitate the Indo-US collaboration in this field by supporting several cross-institutional visits of scientists from the participating institutions.