India (Commonwealth Union)_ As part of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historical state visit to the US and meeting with US President Joe Biden, numerous technology partnerships were announced between New Delhi and Washington. The joint statement issued by the two nations underscored the crucial role that technology will play in strengthening their bilateral relationship. One of the key areas of collaboration highlighted in the joint statement is advanced telecommunications, with a specific focus on 5G technology and open routing systems. India and the US are working together in these domains, showcasing their commitment to fostering greater cooperation in cutting-edge telecommunications technologies.
According to India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, during the discussions between the leaders, technology played a prominent role. Accordingly, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on the Semiconductor Supply Chain and Innovation Partnership, representing a significant advancement in the coordination of semiconductor incentive programs between the two nations. Notably, Micron Technology announced its plans to establish a semiconductor test and assembly plant in Gujarat, with an investment of up to $825 million. Another semiconductor manufacturing equipment company also intends to unveil a training program for 60,000 Indian engineers, contributing to the development of India’s semiconductor industry. Overall, the total $2.75 billion investment will create 5,000 direct employment opportunities and 15,000 community jobs over the next five years.
The partnership announcements continued further, with President Biden and Prime Minister Modi unveiling a collaboration between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The objective is to establish a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation by the end of 2023. As part of this partnership, Indian astronauts will receive training at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, with the aim of jointly undertaking a mission to the International Space Station in 2024. The joint statement outlined several other tech partnerships and announcements. Accordingly, Lam Research, through its Semiverse Solution virtual fabrication platform, plans to train 60,000 Indian engineers to expedite India’s efforts to develop a skilled semiconductor workforce.
Further, Applied Materials intends to invest $400 million in establishing a collaborative engineering center in India. Additionally, two joint task forces will focus on advanced telecommunications, specifically Open RAN and research and development in 5G/6G technologies. Additionally, a joint Indo-US Quantum Coordination Mechanism will be established. The US National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Indian Department of Science and Technology (DST) have agreed to sponsor 35 joint research collaborations in emerging technologies. Moreover, the Indian Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) will contribute $140 million in in-kind donations to the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Fermi National Laboratory for the collaborative development of the Proton Improvement Plan-II Accelerator.
In terms of visa rules, the US plans to introduce in-country renewable H-1B visas. This decision holds significant importance for thousands of Indian professionals, as it allows them to continue working in the US without the need to travel overseas for visa renewal. Another crucial aspect of the partnership between India and the US is their joint commitment to trustworthy and responsible artificial intelligence (AI). They aim to collaborate on generative AI, both within their respective countries and on an international scale. Their mutual goal is to advance AI education and workforce initiatives, generate more commercial opportunities, and take proactive measures to prevent discrimination and bias in AI systems.
Further, the two leaders extended their partnerships in the fields of education, consulates, mineral security, defense, and other major areas. Overall, PM Modi’s historically significant state visit to the US proved to be a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations, as it not only showcased the growing strategic partnership between the two countries but also laid the foundation for future collaboration in the fields of technology, innovation, and beyond.
