Latest news with #TechnologySecurityInitiative
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
India, UK mark one year of tech security initiative, unveil new plans for AI, 6G, critical minerals
London : India and the UK reaffirmed their commitment to the Technology Security Initiative (TSI) on the first anniversary of the deal, celebrating a year of transformative collaboration in frontier technologies to drive economic growth and strengthen national security, as stated in a statement issued by the UK Government on Thursday. According to the statement, the TSI, launched in 2024 when UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy visited India last year, has achieved significant milestones in telecom, artificial intelligence (AI), critical minerals, and biotechnology, highlighting partnerships among industry, academia, and government. "Both parties welcomed the Initiative's achievements to date and underscored the transformative potential of the TSI to deliver cutting-edge innovations and generate investment across the entire technology value chain," the statement read. The statement noted key milestones during the past year under the initiative, which include a GBP 7 million joint research programme on Future Telecoms, supporting Open RAN and 5G and 6G testbed development, and collaboration between India's Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and the UK's Smart RAN Open Network Interoperability Centre (SONIC). The first UK-India Conference on AI, held in Bengaluru in February 2025, advanced responsible AI development. Meanwhile, the Critical Minerals Supply Chain Observatory completed its first phase, with GBP 1.8 million allocated for Phase Two to establish a digital data infrastructure and a satellite campus at the Indian School of Mines in Dhanbad, as noted in the statement. Additionally, a partnership between the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and India's Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in FEMTECH has strengthened women-orientated health technology. Looking ahead, the TSI aims to establish a UK-India joint centre for AI to promote trusted AI innovations, an India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre for secure 5G/6G and AI-driven telecoms, and a Critical Minerals Guild to enhance sustainable supply chains. The partnership will also explore the establishment of a UK-India Biotechnology Accelerator to advance biofoundries, bioprinting, and sustainable agriculture. Both nations will continue collaboration on graphene and 2D materials technology and expand TSI into futuristic, secure technologies. The statement also called on industry, startups, and academia to leverage TSI opportunities, emphasising its role in aligning national security priorities and fostering innovation. The initiative is also part of the India-UK Vision 2035, under which both countries will focus on future telecoms, AI, and critical minerals, laying the groundwork for future collaboration on semiconductors, quantum technology, biotechnology, and advanced materials. The India-UK Vision 2035 reaffirms both nations' shared commitment to unlocking the full potential of the revitalised partnership, which was announced following the signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
India, UK mark one year of Tech Security Initiative, unveil new plans for AI, 6G, critical minerals
London : India and the UK reaffirmed their commitment to the Technology Security Initiative (TSI) on the first anniversary of the deal, celebrating a year of transformative collaboration in frontier technologies to drive economic growth and strengthen national security, as stated in a statement issued by the UK Government on Thursday. According to the statement, the TSI, launched in 2024 when UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy visited India last year, has achieved significant milestones in telecom, artificial intelligence (AI), critical minerals, and biotechnology, highlighting partnerships among industry, academia, and government. "Both parties welcomed the Initiative's achievements to date and underscored the transformative potential of the TSI to deliver cutting-edge innovations and generate investment across the entire technology value chain," the statement read. The statement noted key milestones during the past year under the initiative, which include a GBP 7 million joint research programme on Future Telecoms, supporting Open RAN and 5G and 6G testbed development, and collaboration between India's Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and the UK's Smart RAN Open Network Interoperability Centre (SONIC). The first UK-India Conference on AI, held in Bengaluru in February 2025, advanced responsible AI development. Meanwhile, the Critical Minerals Supply Chain Observatory completed its first phase, with GBP 1.8 million allocated for Phase Two to establish a digital data infrastructure and a satellite campus at the Indian School of Mines in Dhanbad, as noted in the statement. Additionally, a partnership between the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and India's Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in FEMTECH has strengthened women-orientated health technology. Looking ahead, the TSI aims to establish a UK-India joint centre for AI to promote trusted AI innovations, an India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre for secure 5G/6G and AI-driven telecoms, and a Critical Minerals Guild to enhance sustainable supply chains. The partnership will also explore the establishment of a UK-India Biotechnology Accelerator to advance biofoundries, bioprinting, and sustainable agriculture. Both nations will continue collaboration on graphene and 2D materials technology and expand TSI into futuristic, secure technologies. The statement also called on industry, startups, and academia to leverage TSI opportunities, emphasising its role in aligning national security priorities and fostering innovation. The initiative is also part of the India-UK Vision 2035, under which both countries will focus on future telecoms, AI, and critical minerals, laying the groundwork for future collaboration on semiconductors, quantum technology, biotechnology, and advanced materials. The India-UK Vision 2035 reaffirms both nations' shared commitment to unlocking the full potential of the revitalised partnership, which was announced following the signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Why India-UK deal on critical minerals points to New Delhi's anxiety over Chinese grip
The fine print of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has a signal towards India's growing anxiety over the Chinese chokehold on the critical minerals' supply chain, and how New Delhi is aiming to counter Beijing's dominance in the sector. This follows a similar initiative by the Quad (comprising India, Australia, Japan, and the United States) earlier this month, where they launched an initiative to secure supply chains of critical minerals, as worries grow around China's stranglehold over the resources, which are vital to new technologies. The India-UK Vision 2035, a document outlining the broader collaborative goals of the free trade agreement between the two said that they will work together to develop cutting-edge technology and research, building on the Technology Security Initiative, focused on future telecoms, artificial intelligence and critical minerals, laying the ground for future collaboration on semiconductors, quantum, bio-technology and advanced materials. To further cooperation in critical minerals, the two countries will also establish a UK-India Critical Minerals Guild to 'transform financing standards and innovation', according to a joint statement by the two. 'Together, the two sides will prioritise processing (of critical minerals), R&D, recycling, managing risk to supply chains, market development etc. and will champion circular economy principles and advance traceability,' it said. As part of the deal with the UK, the second phase of the UK-India Critical Minerals Supply Chain Observatory (SCO) will receive £1.8 million in new funding to set up a satellite campus at the Indian School of Mines in Dhanbad. The funding will also support developing the world's largest digital data infrastructure on the critical minerals value chain, according to an official joint statement. The SCO is housed within the Industrial Resilience Research Group at the University of Cambridge's Institute for Manufacturing. The first phase, which involved sharing, monitoring, and analysing supply chain data on critical minerals like lithium, copper, nickel, and cobalt, was launched in collaboration with IIT Bombay in October last year. Critical minerals, which include rare earth elements (REEs), are an important component of various cutting-edge hardware, ranging from semiconductors and electric vehicles to jet fighters. Rare earth magnets, especially neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, are crucial for EV manufacturing, particularly in electric motors. They provide the strong magnetic fields needed for efficient and powerful electric motors, including traction motors that drive EVs. These magnets also play a major role in other EV components such as power steering systems, wiper motors, and braking systems. China has a near monopoly over the production of these rare earth magnets. Following US President Donal Trump's tariff onslaught on other countries in April, China implemented specifically designed bureaucratic hurdles for foreign companies looking to source critical minerals from the country. While the availability of rare earth metals is not limited to China, it is in the efficient processing of these critical elements where Beijing has a substantial lead, which was once enjoyed by the US and Japan. In recent years, Japan has been able to restart some of its minerals processing industry owing to government policies, but countries like the US and India are heavily dependent on Chinese exports of these metals. In response to the US administration's reciprocal tariff heat, China restricted exports of seven heavy rare earth metals including samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium, as well as rare earth magnets. Earlier, it had also banned exports to the US of gallium, germanium, antimony, and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications. India's nascent but slowly growing EV industry has faced a direct impact of Chinese restrictions on export of rare earth magnets. None of the applications made by Indian carmakers to source the critical minerals have yet been accepted by Beijing, with automakers staring at shortages and potential setbacks to production plans. China requires companies to secure an end-user licence, along with an endorsement from the local government that the minerals will not be used for military applications. However, the fact that China has not yet cleared any application from Indian entities is a cause of concern. Worrying still is a fresh insistence from Beijing that instead of sourcing magnets separately, carmakers buy entire electric motor assemblies from Chinese companies, or simply wait for the Chinese authorities to issue export permits to local rare earth magnet producers, as has been done, according to Reuters, for at least four magnet producers that include suppliers to Volkswagen — the first granted since Beijing restricted shipments earlier this year. The German carmaker is said to have lobbied hard with Beijing to get this done. Aggam Walia is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, reporting on power, renewables, and mining. His work unpacks intricate ties between corporations, government, and policy, often relying on documents sourced via the RTI Act. Off the beat, he enjoys running through Delhi's parks and forests, walking to places, and cooking pasta. ... Read More Soumyarendra Barik is Special Correspondent with The Indian Express and reports on the intersection of technology, policy and society. With over five years of newsroom experience, he has reported on issues of gig workers' rights, privacy, India's prevalent digital divide and a range of other policy interventions that impact big tech companies. He once also tailed a food delivery worker for over 12 hours to quantify the amount of money they make, and the pain they go through while doing so. In his free time, he likes to nerd about watches, Formula 1 and football. ... Read More
Malaysia Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
"India-UK Vision 2035 infuses fresh ambition to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership": EAM Jaishankar
London [UK] July 24 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that the India-UK Vision 2035 announced today by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will redefine the partnership between India and the UK. Jaishankar said that the India-UK Vision 2035 will provide fresh ambition to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations. In a post on X, he said, 'The India-UK Vision 2035 announced today by PM Narendra Modi & PM Keir Starmer will redefine the partnership and make our ties future ready. It infuses fresh ambition to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership encompassing all sectors. The vision will guide our relations to be stronger, deeper and more beneficial for both our peoples.' Earlier in the day, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that India and the UK launched the India-UK Vision 2035 strategy to build on their partnership. 'The step-up in the relationship we discussed in the autumn of last year, and that's why alongside this trade deal, I am delighted that we are building on our partnership by launching India-UK vision 2035 strategy pledging to work more closely on areas such as defence, migration, climate, education and health,' he said. Starmer pledged to continue work on the Technology Security Initiative, enhancing opportunities for both countries. 'We will also build on the fantastic work we already do in technology and innovation, celebrating the one-year anniversary of the landmark Technology Security Initiative. Making the most of the opportunities it represents for both of our countries,' he said. Jaishankar also hailed the signing of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) as a momentous development. Jaishankar said that the agreement will stabilise global trade at a time of volatility. In a post on X, he said, 'The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed today is a momentous development. CETA will deepen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and impart a new energy to our exchanges. It will also help stabilise global trade at a time of volatility. Truly a watershed in our ties.' (ANI)
NDTV
09-07-2025
- Business
- NDTV
PM Modi Likely To Visit UK This Month, India-UK Trade Deal Signing On Cards
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to travel to the United Kingdom by the end of this month for a visit that could see both sides formally ink the landmark India-UK free trade deal and explore ways to expand bilateral ties in defence and security sphere, diplomatic sources said on Tuesday. Both sides are in the process of finalising the dates for PM Modi's visit to the UK by the end of July or the first part of August, they said. Earlier, there were indications that British PM Keir Starmer will visit India first. It is learnt that the British prime minister may visit India later this year. India and the UK are expected to formally sign the free trade deal during PM Modi's visit to London, the sources said. In May, India and the UK sealed the free trade agreement that is expected to benefit 99 per cent of Indian exports from tariffs and will make it easier for British firms to export whisky, cars and other products to India, besides boosting the overall trade basket. Along with the FTA -- the biggest the UK has done since leaving the European Union -- the two sides also sealed a double contribution convention. PM Modi had described the two pacts as a "historic milestone" to catalyse trade, investment, growth and job creation in both economies and further deepen the India-UK comprehensive strategic partnership. The trade deal, firmed up after three years of negotiations, is expected to ensure comprehensive market access for Indian goods across all sectors, and India will gain from tariff elimination on about 99 per cent of tariff lines (product categories) covering almost 100 per cent of the trade values, according to officials. A British readout had said Indian tariffs will be slashed, locking in reductions on 90 per cent of tariff lines, with 85 per cent of these becoming fully tariff-free within a decade. In 2023-24, India was the UK's second-largest source of investments in terms of the number of projects for the fifth consecutive year. During PM Modi's visit to the UK, both sides are also expected to explore ways to expand defence and security cooperation. The two sides may also deliberate on the implementation of the Technology Security Initiative (TSI). In July last year, India and the UK firmed up the Technology Security Initiative that sets out a bold new approach for collaboration in a range of priority sectors, including telecom, critical minerals, semiconductors and artificial intelligence, with a broader aim to elevate their strategic partnership to the next level. The TSI would also provide for a framework for building a broad UK-India semiconductor partnership that will leverage each other's strengths and incentives and explore mutually beneficial research and development as well as supply chain resilience. It also seeks to build upon the ambitious cooperation agenda set out in the India-UK Roadmap 2030.
