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India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET): Upwards and Onwards
It was in May 2022 on the sidelines of Quad Summit in Tokyo that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden first announced the augmentation of strategic technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation between the two sides through the setting up of an initiative on critical and emerging technology (iCET). iCET took final shape in January 2023 with it’s official launch by the two National Security Advisors. This initiative is led by the National Security Council Secretariat of India and National Security Council of the US. iCET has generated a rare momentum in such a short span and has led to deepening and broadening of the India-US relations.
With iCET completing it’s one year, this viewpoint aims to first understand why India-US started looking at critical and emerging technology as a quintessential area of collaboration, what are the unique features of iCET and what is the way forward for iCET.
The Why of India-US iCET?
The most defining feature of contemporary international politics is the global power struggle taking place at the intersection of technology and geopolitics. The weaponisation, mastering, and control of digital technologies is the new ‘Great Game’ leading to the creation of technological spheres of influence especially in the Indo-Pacific.[i]Technology especially, Critical and Emerging Technologies (CETs) are a subset of advanced technologies that has great significance and are critical in a nation’s progress.[ii] Critical and Emerging Technologies include advance computing (supercomputing, cloud computing, etc.), financial technologies (distributed ledger technologies, digital payment technologies), Quantum information technologies, semiconductors, artificial intelligence etc. Both India-US through this technological partnership in the form of iCET aim to enhance national security, advance economic development and opportunity, and lay the foundation of a tech decade which favours democracies around the world.
The iCET envisages six broad areas of cooperation, involving co-development and co-production in critical emerging technologies in defence, space and next generation telecommunications, including 6G networks, Artificial Intelligence and semiconductors in addition to other vital sundry areas of engineering, science and biotechnology which too are included.[iii]
As the announcement to set up iCET was made during the QUAD summit in Tokyo, many analysts interpreted it as a strategic move highlighting that US sees India as a natural partner in adapting to new strategic realities in the Indo-Pacific. iCET has seen the participation of think tanks, academics, industry leaders, technologists, entrepreneurs, and others. iCET has taken a whole of society approach. The structure of iCET is such that it ensures constant communication by bringing multiple agencies and multi-stakeholders continuously and maintaining a constant communication amongst them. Another feature of iCET is that it is led by National Security Councils on both sides as it aims to promote deeper and faster strategic partnership. iCET is monitored through mid-term reviews to ensure the continued momentum that includes first review that took place in September 2023 and the next annual iCET review which is to be co-led by the National Security Advisors of both countries, in early 2024.[iv]
Through iCET, the government has taken the role of an enabler giving space to academicians, private players, MSME’S, technologists, think tank analysts, etc. Also, various initiatives of the Indian Government like National Quantum Mission, New Space Policy 2023, India-United States Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS X) etc, allows US investors to have clarity while investing in India. India is also aiming to procure 31 MQ-9B predators (long endurance armed drones) from the General Atomics Global Corporation.[v] Also, GE Aerospace will transfer 80 per cent of its technology to India for the production of F414 fighter jet engines. [vi] In space, US will provide training to India to develop a commercial lunar space programme. Also, in order to strengthen cooperation on human spaceflight, there will be exchanges which will include advanced training for an Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)/Department of Space astronaut at NASA Johnson Space Center.[vii] In the field of semiconductors, under iCET a task force for examining semiconductor complimentarily has been set and in May 2023 an MOU was signed to establish a collaborative mechanism on semiconductor supply chain resilience and diversification.Also, the Lam Research Corporation (a semiconductor lab in US) is in the process of training around 60,000 workforce in semiconductor industry in India and also looks to start the training another batch of the people in January 2024.[viii] Further to lower the biggest hurdle of export controls between the two countries, in June 2023, a new Strategic Trade Dialogue took place to smoothen the export control regulations.
In addition, discussions were held on promoting collaboration on High Performance Computing (HPC), which will include US government working with the Congress and the Senate to lower legislative barriers to U.S. exports to India of HPC technology and source code.[ix] Through the iCET the fields of biotechnology, advanced materials, and rare earth processing technology has been identified as areas for future cooperation.
The Way Forward for iCET
With one year on, the iCET seems to be on the right track as it has promoted more frequent government-to-government interactions and prioritized engagement among a broader coalition of non-governmental stakeholders.[x] As India is synonymous with software, population, data, scaling solutions, market and US is synonymous with tech, inventions and innovations; iCET aims to bring both on the same page. Prime Minister Modi and President Biden reaffirmed technology’s defining role in deepening the 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.[xi]
Looking forward, iCET should avoid the pitfalls of previous technology cooperation initiatives like Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) which did not live upto the promise of jointly developing and manufacturing US military equipment and associated technology transfer as it could not overcome the legislative and administrative hurdles and lobbying by defence-industry complex.[xii] There is a need on both sides to legally and administratively facilitate joint development and joint production so that iCET moves forward in its objective and does not falls like DTTI. As both countries head into the election year, iCET should not be lost in rhetoric. It is also essential to synchronize iCET with tech initiatives of QUAD or I2U2. Government should keep reviewing and regulating iCET for feedback and progress. Governments on both sides should increase the scale of investment in coming months to establish new areas of research and production collaboration.
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*Anubha Gupta, Research Associate, Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi.
Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal.
Endnotes
[i] Julian Ringhof and Jose Torreblanca, “The geopolitics of technology: How the EU can become a global player,” European Council on Foreign Relations, 17th May 2022, Available at https://ecfr.eu/publication/the-geopolitics-of-technology-how-the-eu-can-become-a-global-player/ accessed on 15th December, 2023.
[ii] A Report by the fast track action subcommittee on critical and emerging technologies of the national science and technology council, USA. Available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/02-2022-Critical-and-Emerging-Technologies-List-Update.pdf accessed on 15th December, 2023
[iii] Rahul Bedi, “US-India iCET: Old Wine in a New Bottle?” TheWire, February 10th, 2023, Available at https://thewire.in/diplomacy/us-india-icet-old-wine-new-bottle accessed on 16th December 2023.
[iv] Joint Statement from India and the United States, 8th September, 2023 Available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/09/08/joint-statement-from-india-and-the-united-states/ Accessed on 18th December 2023.
[v] Manisha Pandey, “India, US looking at finalising MQ-9B Predator drone deal by early 2024: Report,” India Today, 27th November, 2023, Available at https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/india-us-looking-at-finalising-mq-9b-predator-drone-deal-by-early-2024-2468117-2023-11-27 Accessed on 18th December 2023.
[vi] US Congress clears historic deal to jointly make jet engines for Indian Air Force, India Today, August 31, 2023, Available at https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/us-congress-clears-landmark-india-us-fighter-engine-deal-2428982-2023-08-31 accessed on 18th December 2023.
[vii] United States and India Elevate Strategic Partnership with the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), 31st January, 2023, Available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/31/fact-sheet-united-states-and-india-elevate-strategic-partnership-with-the-initiative-on-critical-and-emerging-technology-icet/ Accessed on 18th December, 2023.
[viii] Rangesh Raghavan, “,” Lam Research, August 9 2023, Available at https://newsroom.lamresearch.com/indian-institute-science-semulator3D?blog=true Accessed on 18th December 2023
[ix] United States and India Elevate Strategic Partnership with the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), 31st January, 2023, Available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/31/fact-sheet-united-states-and-india-elevate-strategic-partnership-with-the-initiative-on-critical-and-emerging-technology-icet/ Accessed on 18th December, 2023.
[x] Global Technology Summit, Carnegie India, 6th December, 2023, Available athttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqUrPNCWOUE Accessed on 10th December 2023
[xi] Joint Statement from India and the United States, PIB, September 8 2023, Available at https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1955696#:~:text=Prime%20Minister%20Modi%20and%20President%20Biden%20reaffirmed%20technology's%20defining%20role,and%20value%20chains%2C%20based%20on Accessed on 16th December 2023.
[xii] Rahul Bedi, “US-India iCET: Old Wine in a New Bottle?” TheWire, February 10th, 2023, Available at https://thewire.in/diplomacy/us-india-icet-old-wine-new-bottle accessed on 16th December 2023.
