India, UK forge semiconductors partnership to strengthen technology security

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy unveiled the UK-India Technology Security Initiative during his inaugural visit to India, marking a significant stride towards enhancing bilateral cooperation in semiconductor technology.

This initiative underscores both nations’ commitment to bolstering their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, focusing on critical areas such as supply chain resilience, skills development, and hardware security.

“We will work towards a broad UK-India semiconductor partnership. Our activities will leverage the countries’ individual strengths and incentives; and explore mutually beneficial R&D focused on strategic issues such as supply chain resilience collaboration, skills exchanges and hardware security,” read a joint statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Lammy’s visit included high-level meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar, where discussions centred on expanding collaborative efforts in defence, security, trade, and investment. The Technology Security Initiative emerges as a cornerstone of this renewed partnership, aiming to leverage India’s manufacturing capabilities alongside the UK’s expertise in chip design and intellectual property.

“The UK and India recognise that quantum is an important area for discussion. We will respond to the rapidly changing technological landscape by establishing a high-level dialogue to gain an in-depth understanding of our national quantum strategies, to shape the contours of possible future research and industry and collaboration opportunities between our two countries,” the joint statement added.