In a significant development, the UK and India have launched the UK-India Technology Security Initiative (TSI), a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at expanding cooperation in Critical and Emerging Technologies (CET) across key sectors. The initiative was announced during the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy visit to New Delhi on July 24, 2024, where he held bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
TSI is a crucial step towards strengthening the partnership between the two nations in the Science and Technology domain, building upon the 2030 roadmap. The initiative will bring together government, private sector, academia, and R&D institutions to collaborate on priority areas such as Telecoms, Critical Minerals, Semiconductors, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum, Biotech, and Advanced Materials.
A Fact Sheet was released after the launch, providing specific guidance on technologies and areas of cooperation. This will enable stakeholders, particularly industry and academia, to navigate the collaboration more effectively, leading to more impactful outcomes.
TSI aims to improve supply chain resilience, develop economically feasible and environmentally sustainable extraction technologies for critical minerals, and boost research, trade, and investment flows between the UK and India. The initiative will also drive progress in genomics, precision medicine, cell and gene therapy, biotherapeutics, bio-manufacturing, bio-electronics, and next-generation telecommunication technologies.
The coordination and monitoring of TSI will be overseen by the National Security Advisors of both countries, with a joint review mechanism conducted every six months at the Deputy NSA level. A bilateral mechanism has also been established to address license and regulatory issues, facilitating the promotion of trade in CET.
This landmark initiative marks a significant milestone in the UK-India partnership, paving the way for a new era of collaboration and innovation in critical and emerging technologies.