Latest news with #TransformingtheRelationshipUtilisingStrategicTechnology
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
‘Indo-US ties evolved from trade to collaborations in science, technology, innovation in 50 years'
A group of industry leaders, tech gurus, and policy experts who spoke at U.S. Chamber of Commerce's U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) conclave here on Wednesday emphasised the importance of increased convergence between India and the U.S. across several areas, including AI infrastructure, quantum technologies, biotech. defence, space, AIOT (artificial intelligence of things). The conclave was held in connection with USIBC's 50th anniversary. U.S. Consul General in Chennai Chris Hodges said commerce today remained at the heart of partnership between India and the U.S. ''Top institutes of higher learning, laboratories, research and development centres, IT firms, start-up incubators, and deep pools of human resources talent make it a natural focus for collaboration under the TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technology) initiative on AI, quantum, semiconductors, biotechnology, and space.' In his opening address, USIBC president Ambassador Atul Keshap (retd) said: 'Fifty years ago, USIBC was born out of a belief that the U.S. and India could accomplish more together. Today, we are building the next 50 on that same foundation of trust.' Speaking on the occasion, Priyank Kharge, Minister of Electronics, Information Technology & Biotechnology and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, emphasised Karnataka's readiness to be a central partner in global innovation. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, president and founder, Biocon Ltd., said over the decades, the two nations have evolved from trade and investment to deep collaborations in science, technology, and innovation. ''We must envision a U.S.-India technology ecosystem that moves beyond transactions toward joint capability-building that delivers resilience, inclusivity and global impact. In a world where geopolitical uncertainties and shifting alliances increasingly influence global supply chains and technology leadership, our partnership stands as a beacon of stability,'' she observed. The next 50 years Going forward, Ms. Shaw said economic growth would be led by digital technologies, AI and high-quality data that support LLMs. 'Data exchanges will form the foundation of a bilateral trade agreement between US and India which is to be announced shortly,'' she anticipated. According to Ms. Shaw, India provides the largest pool of STEM talent to the U.S., with over 2 million professionals contributing to technology, research, and innovation. U.S. companies were investing in areas like AI, semiconductors, clean energy, and digital infrastructure in India. At the same time, Indian companies have been investing in IT services, and now increasingly in technology R&D, digital health, biomanufacturing, and advanced analytics, she said. Pharmaceuticals, she said, remained a cornerstone of this partnership, as India played a vital role in global and U.S. healthcare by ensuring a steady supply of affordable medicines. ''India supplies over 45% of generic and 15% of biosimilar volumes consumed in the U.S. annually. Over the past decade, generics and biosimilars have saved the U.S. healthcare system over $3 trillion,'' she said, adding these savings have enabled broader insurance coverage and made essential medicines accessible to a larger population.
Economic Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
TRUST but verify: India, US reboot AI chip talks
A high-level Indian delegation, including foreign secretary Vikram Misri and deputy NSA Pavan Kapoor, met their US counterparts in Washington this week. Among other issues, they discussed implementing TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technology) initiative, and US-India COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) partnership. At the centre of Misri's discussions with US deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau was how tech-trade-talent will shape the India-US May, the Trump administration had repealed the AI Diffusion Rule introduced towards the end of Joe Biden's tenure. The rule classified countries across three tiers, laying down specific criteria for exporting - or not - AI infrastructure to them. India, placed in tier 2, with about 120 other countries, faced a cap of 50,000 advanced GPUs to be imported from the US through 2027. Also, no US company could deploy over 7% of its overall compute power in India. That rule is slated to be replaced, with recent reports suggesting that new rules on exporting US AI infra could be driven by country-specific negotiations, and may feature in their ongoing bilateral trade negotiations. For India, there are no clear indications yet on what the new rules could mean for it. As of now, repeal of AI Diffusion Rule is widely seen as a 'big breather'. However, importing an uncapped number of GPUs, or other advanced AI chips, from the US may not necessarily translate to sufficient compute capacity for India. AI Diffusion Rule's repeal should be an opportunity to understand other roadblocks to building compute capacity for computing power is necessary to fuel any AI ambitions, GoI recently provisioned about 14,000 GPUs on subsidy for its AI ecosystem. It's expected to procure 15,000 more from 7 shortlisted bidders in the coming of volume, any GPUs or advanced AI chips imported need to be housed in data centres. This assumes significance as a May 2025 Deloitte report, 'Attracting AI Data Centre Infrastructure Investment in India', highlights that India may need 45-50 mn sq ft real estate, coupled with 40-45 terawatt hours (TWh) incremental power for data centres by 2030 for its AI demand. So, challenges to building data centres must remain in India's policymaking focus. The rule repeal remains positive news, though limited in its impact and contingent on other factors relating to India's overall compute capabilities. But it serves as an opportunity to clear the mist on capabilities of India's data centres that will ultimately house high-end AI chips from the US. Both governments must now double down on identifying roadblocks to bringing AI infra to India, particularly under the timely TRUST initiative. Further, the Quad leaders' summit, to be hosted by India later this year, can be opportune platform for presenting Washington's and New Delhi's findings on TRUST. This could lead to reformative policymaking relating to power, finance and regulatory capacity is only one of the building blocks for India's AI ambitions. Launched last year, the IndiaAI Mission, with a ₹10,300 cr-plus budget outlay, has made significant strides on its seven pillars. In addition to its massive and ongoing compute procurement, its AIKosh platform, unveiled in March, now boasts 350+ datasets and will only month, GoI selected the Bengaluru-based startup Sarvam AI to build India's first sovereign LLM model. It also awarded several projects for safety-enhancing technologies, and has called for partnerships for its AI Safety Institute. But more needs to be done, especially to address AI-induced structural unemployment, and the need to increase public-private spending on the R&D ecosystem. The writer is associate director,US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Anil Ambani is back. Is it for real? Can inclusive growth dividend transform economic security in India? He termed IndiGo a 'paan ki dukaan'. Still made INR30k crore by selling its shares Will revised economic capital framework lead to higher RBI dividend to govt? What pizzas are Indians eating? The clue lies with India's largest QSR. Stock Radar: KEC International stock reclaims 200-EMA; stock showing signs of bottoming out after 30% fall from highs Multibagger or IBC - Part 8: This Indian auto ancillary is expanding beyond 2Ws, with a foray into 4Ws Should you sell or hold Voltas, Blue Star and other 'summer stocks' because the monsoon is early? Answer is not in black & white Buy, sell or hold: UBS upgrades Aarti Industries to buy; Antique maintains buy on Shilpa Medicare
