iCET dialogue

In news- National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his US counterpart Jake Sullivan formally launched the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in Washington.

About iCET dialogue-

Announced during US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral talks in Tokyo in May 2022, the iCET is spearheaded by the National Security Councils of both countries.
It focuses on strengthening the US-India partnership on the technologies that will drive global growth, bolster both countries’ economic competitiveness, and protect shared national security interests.
iCET will accelerate the US’ strategic technology partnership with India and advance the two countries’ shared democratic values.
The inaugural meeting under Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) was hosted by the US-India Business Council with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and other senior US and Indian officials.
As part of this, a task force will be formed between the US Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) in partnership with the India Electronics Semiconductor Association (IESA) with participation from the Government of India Semiconductor Mission to develop a “readiness assessment” to identify near-term industry opportunities and facilitate the longer-term strategic development of complementary semiconductor ecosystems.
This task force will make recommendations to the Department of Commerce and the India Semiconductor Mission on opportunities and challenges to overcome in order to further strengthen India’s role within the global semiconductor value chain, and will also provide input to the US-India Commercial Dialogue.
The task force will also identify and facilitate workforce development, R&D, advanced packaging, and exchange opportunities to benefit both countries.
In addition, the two nations are signing a new Implementation Arrangement for a Research Agency Partnership between the National Science Foundation and Indian science agencies to expand international collaboration in various areas. This includes artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and advanced wireless.
They are also establishing a joint Indo-US Quantum Coordination Mechanism with participation from industry, academia, and government to facilitate research and industry collaboration.
In addition, they are also promoting collaboration on High Performance Computing (HPC), including by working with Congress to lower barriers to U.S. exports to India of HPC technology and source code.
India and the US are also developing a new bilateral Defense Industrial Cooperation Roadmap to accelerate technological cooperation between both countries for joint development and production, with an initial focus on exploring projects related to jet engines, munition-related technologies, and other systems.