The last few years have seen an acceleration of cooperation between India and the US in terms of technology, with a key joint initiative in this area – the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology, or iCET – receiving additional impetus with the Indian Prime Minister’s recent visit to the US. The growth in cooperation illustrates India’s appetite for STEM cooperation.

The iCET partnership was formally launched in January 2023, aiming to elevate and expand bilateral strategic technology partnerships and defence industrial cooperation between the two governments along with US and Indian businesses and academic institutions. Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to the US shifted the focus to deliverables and progressing the commitment to work on dual technologies such as AI, quantum technologies and semiconductors, strengthening supply chain technologies, innovation ecosystem, defence cooperation and next generation communications.

The iCET will also strengthen space cooperation including innovative approaches for the commercial sectors of the two countries to collaborate and initiate new STEM talent exchanges which would cover space science, Earth science and human spaceflight.

In addition, a joint task force for STEM talent will be established between the Association of American Universities and leading Indian educational institutions to recommend research and university partnerships for students and young tech professionals. It will support building capacity of individuals and institutions in emerging tech areas to research, produce and  collaborate.

The increased focus on technology cooperation is only one aspect of growing India-US cooperation. Bilateral trade between the two countries increased by 7.65% to USD 129 billion in 2022-23 while India and the US also cooperate in the diplomatic world through various international organisations and regional alliances.

From the perspective of UK HEIs, the growth in US-India cooperation shows that Indian institutions have a strong demand for international academic partnerships in technology-related fields, which creates opportunities for joint research or other forms of cooperation.

Further information about the iCET can be found in the links below.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/31/fact-sheet-united-states-and-india-elevate-strategic-partnership-with-the-initiative-on-critical-and-emerging-technology-icet/

https://carnegieindia.org/2023/06/12/india-and-united-states-good-bet-one-year-of-u.s.-india-initiative-on-critical-and-emerging-technology-icet-pub-89926

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/explained-what-is-the-india-us-initiative-on-future-tech/article66980841.ece

https://www.livemint.com/news/world/icet-has-potential-to-take-us-india-ties-to-next-level-arun-singh-11675770025575.html