Ankesh Arora: Leading U.S.-India Emerging Technologies Partnership

The United States and India continue to deepen their partnership in technology, building on the initial momentum established through the launch of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) in 2023. This collaboration has gained renewed energy under the new U.S. administration, which seeks to strengthen bilateral cooperation and ensure sustained progress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States in February 2025 marked a significant milestone with the announcement of the TRUST initiative (Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology). Designed to enhance the U.S.-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, TRUST aims to expand cooperation in innovation and technology.

U.S. - India Strategic Partnership Timeline:

February 13, 2025

Prime Minister Modi's recent visit to the United States saw the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) being renamed the Transforming Relations Utilising Strategic Technologies (TRUST). As the guiding framework for technological cooperation between India and the U.S. under the Donald Trump administration, TRUST retains the same foundation of mutual trust that defined the iCET, involving governments, academia, and the private sector to advance critical and emerging technologies in defense, AI, semiconductors, quantum, biotechnology, energy, and space, and emphasizing the use of verified vendors and protection of sensitive technologies. The two nations also pledged to collaborate with private industry to develop a "U.S.-India Roadmap on Accelerating AI Infrastructure" by the end of 2025.

February 11, 2025

U.S. National Science Foundation director Sethuraman Panchanathan and Anusandhan National Research Foundation CEO Abhay Karandhikar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a framework for collaboration on critical and emerging technologies. The MoU aims to facilitate joint initiatives, including funding opportunities for collaborative research, peer-reviewed project evaluations, and co-hosted conferences and workshops.

January 6, 2025

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval met in New Delhi to review progress in defense, cyber, and maritime security cooperation. The readout from the meeting highlights the U.S. delegation's briefing to India on recent updates to the Missile Technology Control Regime, which will enhance U.S.-India commercial space collaboration.

December 18, 2024

U.S. principal deputy national security advisor (PDNSA) Jon Finer, deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell, and Indian ambassador to the United States Vinay Kwatra convened in Houston, Texas, to highlight advancements in space cooperation under the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). The themes discussed include human spaceflight, joint space exploration, and a commitment to facilitating commercial partnerships between U.S. and Indian space companies to advance shared interests in the growing space economy.

September 22, 2024

The U.S. and India released a Joint Fact Sheet applauding the success of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in advancing strategic cooperation in key sectors such as space, semiconductors, and advanced telecommunications. The leaders pledged to intensify collaboration and sustain momentum in emerging fields, including artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, biotechnology, and clean energy. The fact sheet highlighted efforts underway to strengthen partnerships such as the Quad and a U.S.-India-ROK Trilateral Technology initiative for more resilient critical industry supply chains.

September 17, 2024

U.S. and Indian officials met in New Delhi for the eighth 2+2 Intersessional Dialogue, co-chaired by senior defense and foreign affairs representatives from both sides. The talks focused on enhancing defense ties, advancing clean energy collaboration, and strengthening coordination in space, civil aviation, and industrial logistics, with discussions spanning regional and global issues. Cooperation on Defense, space, and clean energy are areas identified for collaboration under the iCET.

September 9-10, 2024

India's iDEX and the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) sign an MoU at the third INDUS X Summit in California to enhance cooperation in defense innovation and deepen industry, research, and investment partnerships. Jointly hosted by the USISPF and the Stanford University, the Summit showcased strengthened ties in defense innovation between the U.S. and India.

June 17, 2024

Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and U.S. NSA Jake Sullivan chaired the second meeting of the India-U.S. initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in New Delhi, emphasizing strides in space, semiconductors, telecom, AI, quantum tech, biotech, and clean energy.

December 4, 2023

Deputy National Security Advisor (Strategic Affairs) Vikram Misri, National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor of the United States of America Jonathan Finer hold bilateral discussions. During the consultations, they reviewed bilateral issues and global developments, focusing on the India-U.S. Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in particular.

November 14, 2023

India and the United States sign an MoU to enhance innovation ecosystems through an innovation handshake under the framework of the India-U.S. Commercial Dialogue. The agreement involves a focus on the critical and emerging technologies identified under the iCET.

September 8, 2023

Prime Minister Modi and President Biden hold bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the G20 Summit hosted by India from September 9-10. The joint statement issued by the countries post the meeting commends the INDUS-X team for establishing a robust collaboration agenda that will facilitate innovation in the U.S. and Indian defense sectors.

September 8, 2023

Prime Minister Modi and President Biden hold bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the G20 Summit hosted by India from September 9-10. The joint statement issued by the countries post the meeting reaffirms the role of iCET in strengthening the India-U.S. strategic partnership.

September 5, 2023

The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) hold the first virtual meeting of the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) Senior Advisory Group. INDUS-X is an innovation bridge under iCET that aims to link the defense innovation ecosystems of both countries.

June 22, 2023

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the United States, Prime Minister Modi and President Biden also launch two public-private Joint Task Forces on advanced telecommunications - an area of focus under the iCET.

June 22, 2023

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the United States, the two countries make a slew of announcements pertaining to cooperation in semiconductors - a target area under the iCET.

June 22, 2023

India signs the Artemis Accords, a U.S.-led international partnership on civil space exploration and research. Fostering closer cooperation in the area of space falls under the umbrella of the iCET.

June 22, 2023

General Electric (GE) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) inked a memorandum of understanding to coproduce fighter jet engines in India. The United States had committed to expediting GE's application to produce jet engines in India at the inaugural meeting of the iCET.

June 21, 2023

India and the United States launch the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) to expand the strategic technology partnership and foster defense-industrial cooperation. This delivers on the commitment to set up a "defense innovation bridge" under the iCET.

June 6, 2023

India and the United States hold the inaugural meeting of the India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue (IUSSTD). The dialogue is aimed at driving strategic technology and trade collaborations envisioned under the iCET.

May 18, 2023

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks hosts Indian Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane at the Pentagon to discuss priorities for strengthening the India-U.S. bilateral defense partnership, including increasing defense-industrial cooperation.

March 10, 2023

At the 5th India-U.S. Commercial Dialogue, Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announce the launch of a new Working Group on Talent, Innovation, and Inclusive Growth under the Commercial Dialogue.

February 14, 2023

In a phone call, Prime Minister Modi and President Biden welcome the first meeting of the iCET and express their desire to bolster bilateral cooperation in the areas of space, semiconductors, and defense.

January 31, 2023

Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his American counterpart Jake Sullivan formally hold the inaugural meeting of the iCET in Washington DC.

January 30, 2023

Ahead of the formal launch of the iCET, the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) host a roundtable to discuss how the two countries could facilitate a deeper alignment on technology issues.

May 24, 2022

Prime Minister Modi and President Biden announce the India-U.S. Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) on the sidelines of the Quad Summit in Tokyo.

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Ankesh Arora is the CEO of ARORA CORPORATION, a multinational conglomerate comprising of A-Square Group, an artificial intelligence and emerging technologies provider for government agencies; and ARORA New York, a global investment management firm. He also heads ARORA Foundation, a private foundation for accelerating socio-economic development via technology adoption.

This release was published on openPR.