Modi, Biden to track critical tech ties; human space flight pact on anvil

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By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi, September 8: Deepening commitment in partnership in emerging technology and space cooperation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden committed to closely track outcomes of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), while also spotlighting efforts to finalise a strategic framework for human space flight cooperation by the end of 2023.

“Determined to deepen our partnership in outer space exploration, ISRO and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have commenced discussions on modalities, capacity building, and training for mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024, and are continuing efforts to finalise a strategic framework for human space flight cooperation by the end of 2023,” said the joint statement issued by the US and India after the bilateral meeting between Modi and Biden.

The statement also underlined that “India and the United States intend to increase coordination on planetary defence to protect planet Earth and space assets from the impact of asteroids and near-Earth objects, including U.S. support for India’s participation in asteroid detection and tracking via the Minor Planet Center”.
Modi and Biden reaffirmed “technology’s defining role in deepening our strategic partnership and lauded ongoing efforts through the India-U.S. Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) to build open, accessible, secure, and resilient technology ecosystems and value chains, based on mutual confidence and trust, which reinforce our shared values and democratic institutions”.

“The United States and India intend to undertake a midterm review of iCET in September 2023 to continue to drive momentum toward the next annual iCET review, co-led by the National Security Advisors of both countries, in early 2024,” added the joint statement. It also noted the two leaders welcoming efforts towards establishment of a Working Group for commercial space collaboration under the existing India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group.

The two leaders reiterated their support for building resilient global semiconductor supply chains, noting in this respect a multi-year initiative of Microchip Technology, Inc., to invest approximately $300 million in expanding its research and development presence in India and Advanced Micro Device’s announcement to invest $400 million in India over the next five years to expand research, development, and engineering operations in India. “The leaders expressed satisfaction at the ongoing implementation of announcements made in June 2023 by U.S. companies, Micron, LAM Research, and Applied Materials,” added the statement.