As Donald Trump prepares to occupy Oval Office for the second time, Indian science and technology sector anticipates bilateral partnership to remain robust, even as there's speculation that the leadership change may, if slightly, alter the trajectory of this cooperation. Trump takes office as India and the US are significantly expanding their tech cooperation across multiple critical and emerging sectors, with emphasis on space exploration, quantum computing, AI, and advanced telecommunications. For instance, Isro and Nasa have strengthened their space partnership, signing a joint statement in Jan 2024 to enhance collaboration on projects including ISS initiatives.
Their key joint project remains the Nisar satellite for Earth observation. Indian astronaut-designates Shubhanshu Shukla and Prashanth Nair are training in the US; Shukla will go to ISS on an Axiom Space mission. The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), launched in Jan 2023, has facilitated broader tech cooperation.
The second iCET Summit in July 2024 reviewed progress in space, semiconductors, AI, quantum computing, and clean energy. The US National Science Foundation and Indian scientific departments have expanded research partnerships across multiple fields. The Sept 2023 MoU between IIT Council and Association of American Universities established the India-US Global Challenges Institute, focusing on sustainable energy, health, semiconductors, AI, & quantum science.
A K Sood, principal scient.