This week marks a significant development in the UK-India strategic relationship with the announcement of the UK–India Technology Security Initiative. This initiative, crafted by the National Security Advisors of both countries, aims to enhance security in various critical and emerging technologies.
The initiative focuses on technical collaboration, encouraging bilateral investments, and expanding the technology sectors in both regions. While the specifics remain somewhat ambiguous, it covers a wide array of technologies, including telecoms, AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology.
“This initiative will set out a bold new approach for how the UK and India work together on the defining technologies of this decade – telecoms, critical minerals, AI, quantum, health/bio tech, advanced materials and semiconductors,” explained the UK government in its announcement.
This agreement is one of the first major endeavors by new Foreign Secretary David Lammy, underscoring his commitment to strengthening international ties, especially with the Global South.
“This government will put growth at the heart of our foreign policy. That’s why three weeks into the job, I am in Delhi announcing a new Technology Security Initiative to deliver on the promise of the UK-India relationship,” stated Lammy. “This will mean real action together on the challenges of the future from AI to critical minerals. Together we can unlock mutual growth, boost innovation, jobs, and investment.”
The Secretary of State for Science, Peter Kyle, shares similar sentiments, emphasizing the mutual benefits. “From telecoms and semiconductors to biotechnology and AI, these generation-defining technologies will unlock countless new opportunities and innovations, so we can deliver for working people here and in India as we deepen our long-standing partnership.”
The UK and India have a history of collaboration in technology, highlighted by a pledge in 2020 to cooperate specifically on telecom technologies. The latest meeting also announced a £7 million funding call for Future Telecoms research. This funding will be provided by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and India’s Department of Science and Technology under the existing science, technology, and innovation partnership between the two nations.
