US India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET)

Context:

• This article is based on the news  “Critical and emerging tech: A central platform for US-India Collaboration” Which was published in the Live Mint.  The US India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) emerged as an important collaboration that would forge closer linkages between the government, academia, and industry of the two countries in areas of Critical and Emerging technologies. 

Announcement: 

• In May 2022, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the US India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) “to elevate and expand their strategic technology partnership and defense industrial cooperation.

• It will  be Co-led by the National Security Council Secretariat in India and US National Security Council.
• Leadership for future: The India and US are poised to lead clean energy transformation, diversify global semiconductor supply chains and supply chains in other critical goods, and lead the revolution in AI (Artificial Intelligence), advanced computing, biotech, and quantum computing.

What are the Critical and Emerging Technologies?

• Critical and emerging technologies (CETs) are a subset of advanced technologies potentially significant to India. These advanced technologies are rapidly transforming the global landscape, and have the scope to redefine next-generation industrial and economic growth besides security challenges. (Refer to Table).

About Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET):

• The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology framework creates a broad umbrella for cooperation between the India and US.
• Objective: the iCET seeks to position New Delhi and Washington D.C. as “trusted technology partners” to build supply chains and support the co-production and co-development of items.
• Reap the Potential of the Private Sector: The power of technology and innovation and the potential of entrepreneurship and the private sector to advance the US India Partnership.
• Area Of Cooperation: Under iCET, both countries have identified six cooperation areas, including co-development and co-production, that would gradually be expanded to QUAD, then to NATO, followed by Europe and the rest of the world.
• Significance: The initiative also aligns strategic, commercial, and scientific-technological approaches.

Six Cooperation areas of the initiative: 

• Developing common standards in AI.
• Developing a roadmap to accelerate defence technological cooperation and an ‘innovation bridge’ to connect defence startups.Supporting the development of a semiconductor ecosystem.
• Strengthening cooperation on human spaceflight.
• Advancing cooperation on development in 5G and 6G, and 
• Adopting OpenRAN network technology in India.

Challenges at India’s end in leveraging iCET:

• Differences on Global Issues: India’s stance on global issues, such as its approach to the Ukraine-Russia war, can sometimes strain its relationships with key partners, potentially affecting collaboration on Critical and Emerging Technology.
• Regulatory Barriers and Export Control Norms: India’s existing export control norms can create hurdles for strategic technology collaborations and trade. Streamlining these regulations is essential to foster innovation and technology transfer.
• Mistrust and Lack of Commitment: Building trust and fostering a strong commitment to investing in advanced technologies among stakeholders is crucial for India’s success in the Critical and Emerging Technology domain.
• Research and Development (R&D) investments: India’s total spending on R&D as a percentage of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated to be 0.7 per cent, which is far too low compared to even near-peer countries such as Mexico, Brazil, and South Africa, let alone China or the US according to the NITI Aayog.
• Capacities of PSUs:  According to Defense experts, the DRDO, HAL and its associated laboratories are not the best at developing cutting-edge or emerging technologies like AI that the military can use.
• Ambiguous Technology Transfer Framework: The lack of a clear and detailed framework for technology transfer hinders collaboration with foreign partners, creating uncertainty and discouraging potential partnerships.
• Problem of intellectual property rights: The U.S. Trade Representative highlighted  India was one of the most challenging major economies as far as IP protection and enforcement in its annual Special 301 report. 
  • The Indian industry raised concerns concerning the IP regime in the US, such as high patent filing costs, online piracy, and unfavorable enforcement of industrial design.

Critical and emerging technologies: A central platform for US India collaboration:

US India Technology Collaboration: 

• Semiconductor supply chains:
  • Micron Technology with support from the India Semiconductor Mission – will invest more than $800 million toward a new $2.75 billion semiconductor assembly and test facility in India. 
• Critical Minerals Partnership:
  • The India and US forged the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), to accelerate the development of diverse and sustainable critical energy minerals supply chains globally through targeted financial and diplomatic support.

• Advanced Telecommunications
  • India and the US also launched public-private Joint Task Forces, one on developing and deploying Open RAN systems and one on advanced telecoms research and development.It will reduce costs, increase security, and improve the resiliency of telecommunication networks.
• New Frontiers in Space: India has signed the Artemis Accords, joining 26 other countries committed to peaceful, sustainable, and transparent cooperation that will enable exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
  • NASA will provide advanced training to Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) astronauts to launch a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024.
  • NASA and the ISRO are developing a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation by the end of 2023.
• Climate Change and Disaster Management:
  • The US Geological Survey and ISRO are negotiating expanded bilateral data exchange that will enable greater insight into the earth, including for various applications, such as climate resiliency, sustainable development and management of natural resources, and disaster management support.
• Quantum, Advanced Computing, and Artificial Intelligence
  • India and the US have established a Joint Indo-U.S. Quantum Coordination Mechanism to facilitate joint research between our countries’ public and private sectors. 
  • The US has also endorsed India’s participation in the Quantum Entanglement Exchange and the Quantum Economic Development Consortium, which facilitates exchanges on quantum between nations.

India – US Defence Partnership:

• GE F414 Engine Co-Production: General Electrics and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have signed a MoU and a manufacturing licence agreement has been submitted for Congressional Notification. 
  • The first-of-its-kind initiative to manufacture F414 engines in India will enable  the transfer of US jet engine technology.
• General Atomics MQ-9Bs: India intends to procure armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs. The drones will increase India’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
• New sustainment and ship repair:
  • The United States Navy has concluded a Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) with Larsen and Toubro Shipyard in Kattupalli (Chennai) and is finalizing agreements with Indian defence public sector entities — Mazagon Dock Limited and Goa Shipyard. 
    • These agreements will allow mid-voyage U.S. Navy ships to undergo service and repair at Indian shipyards, facilitating cost-effective and time-saving sustainment activities for U.S. military operations across multiple theatres.
• Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap:
  • The India and US finalized a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap that provides policy direction to Defence industries and enables the co-production of advanced Defence systems.
• Advanced defence materials:  
  • The India and US  have also commenced negotiations for a Security of Supply Arrangement and Reciprocal Defence Procurement Arrangement that will enable the supply of Defence goods in the event of unanticipated supply chain disruptions. 
• Undersea domain awareness cooperation:
  • The India and US resolved to strengthen undersea domain awareness cooperation. 
• Defence “Innovation Bridge”: The India US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) a network of universities, incubators, corporations, think tanks, and private investment stakeholders — was inaugurated on June 21, 2023. 
  • This programme will facilitate joint innovation on defence technologies and accelerate the integration of India’s private sector defence industry with the US defence sector.

Conclusion:  

Critical and Emerging Technology hold immense potential for India’s future growth and prosperity. India must continue to invest in research and development, foster innovation, and create a conducive environment for adopting CETs to realize their transformative power.

For More Information: 

• India-US Relations
• Critical Mineral