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On the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2025 (or SPIEF 2025), a high-level roundtable was held at the ITMO University campus, bringing together senior government officials, leading industry players, and prominent think tanks from India and Russia.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief Nitin A Gokhale was one of the participants in the event. In this week’s Defence Mantra, he takes us through the proceedings and highlights how both countries are working on tech diplomacy to tackle modern threats.
Organized by the Technology Sovereignty Export Association of Russia (TSEA) and the Russoft Association, in partnership with the Chamber for Indo-Russo Technology Collaboration (CIRTC), this dialogue marks a pivotal moment in strengthening bilateral cooperation in science, technology, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
The roundtable served as a launchpad for the Indo-Russia Technology Hub, an ambitious initiative aimed at institutionalising science and technology diplomacy between the two countries. A key outcome is the proposed joint venture between Innopraktika (Russia) and BharRosa—a special purpose vehicle under CIRTC—to promote collaborative innovation under the umbrella of the Indian-Russian Science and Technology Council in Moscow.
From regulatory convergence in cybersecurity to cross-border AI projects, Nitin explains how the event laid the groundwork for long-term strategic partnerships and joint innovation ecosystems. Indian and Russian participants explored frameworks for cooperation in emerging technologies, discussed challenges in global tech governance, and identified opportunities for joint pilot projects with applications across friendly countries.
This roundtable was more than a diplomatic exchange—it was a signal of intent from both nations to lead in the new technological order through collaboration, trust, and shared scientific ambition.
Associate Editor
