India and the United States are taking their strategic relationship to the next level. Both countries are enhancing collaboration to work together on emerging technologies. This at a time when there are growing calls in the United States to counter China and stymie the growth of the dragon in the tech sphere. The National Security Advisors (NSAs) of the United States and India held the inaugural review meeting on the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). The initiative was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joseph Biden on the sidelines of the Quad Summit in Tokyo on 24 May 2022.
India and America are seeking to collaborate on a diverse range of topics such as Artificial Intelligence (AI,) Quantum Computing, defence innovation, advanced communications systems and space exploration. The dialogue is held between governments, businesses and academic institutions from both countries. This is the second such meet that has taken place. The first iCET meeting took place in the United States in January, last year.
In an effort to give a boost to the technology ecosystem, the American and Indian governments will fund a U.S.-India Global Challenges Institute that will help foster partnerships between institutions in both countries, especially in areas such as semiconductor technology, clean energy and other critical and emerging technologies.
Both nations have affirmed their commitment to fostering an open technology ecosystem that is based on mutual trust and confidence with an aim to strengthen democratic values. The American Ambassador has stated that his country will send an Indian astronaut to space.
The collaboration in technology is coming at a time of increasing assertiveness from China in the broader Asia-Pacific region. It has been decided to deepen cooperation between U.S. Defense Innovation Unit and India’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) to accelerate the joint adoption of cutting-edge technologies. Work is also underway on AI Multi-Doman Situational Awareness products jointly developed by General Atomics and 114ai to facilitate better command and control.
Besides this, the two large democracies are also working on 5G and 6G R&D Task Force collaboration. Besides this, the industries of both nations are to collaborate on large-scale Open RAN (Radio Access Network/ the latest architecture in communication technology) deployments in both markets.
On the AI and quantum computing front, it has been decided to better integrate in quantum science and technology which would include quantum communication, post-quantum migration and security, and Digital Twins.
