The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) holds the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) roundtable in Delhi.
Today’s era is significantly driven by cutting-edge technologies. World leaders know how these technologies can help in the development of their country’s economy and most importantly the defense sector.
Making a step ahead towards their strong relationship, India and the United States are putting efforts towards their strategic partnership in emerging technologies. Both nations joined hands at the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi.
The meeting was chaired by Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. This meeting marks a pivotal moment in the collaboration between the two nations.
In his remarks, Ajit Doval emphasized the role of industry in technology and the progress of iCET since its inception, according to a CII statement.
Jake Sullivan highlighted three important buckets for technology partnerships – innovation, production, and deployment. He also pointed out the significance of innovation and the need for government support for the private sector.
What is Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET)?
The Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) is an initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden in May 2022. This initiative aims to forge greater collaboration between India and the US in areas of critical technologies.
This is the second iCET meeting, where both the official outlined their vision for the next phase of their strategic technology partnership. They stressed the importance of co-production, co-development, and research and development (R&D) to remain at the forefront of innovation.
They further highlighted the need for collaboration with like-minded nations to deliver secure, reliable, and cost-effective technology solutions globally. During the iCET meeting, CEOs and thought leaders from both countries were present. This gathering aimed to mobilize private sector investment and partnerships across strategic technology sectors, further solidifying the collaborative spirit between India and the US.
According to the joint statement, the two nations are introducing over US$90 million in government funding over the next five years for the India-US Global Challenges Institute. This institute is aimed at fostering high-impact university and research partnerships in areas such as semiconductors, clean energy, health equity, sustainable agriculture, and pandemic preparedness.
In addition to bridging the innovation ecosystems, several other key areas of focus highlighted during the meeting are the advancement of space technology cooperation, telecommunications opportunities, strengthening of biotechnology and bio-manufacturing, defense innovation, and the enhancement of Quantum, AI, and high-performance computing collaboration.