INDUS- X

INDUS- X

WHY IN NEWS ?

• India-United States Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS X) was launched at an event in Washington DC, USA on 21 June 2023.

OBJECTIVE OF INDUS-X:

• It is a major initiative launched under iCET between India and the U.S.
• The collaboration agenda lists points like mentor-protege partnerships for startups by defence firms of both countries, academic and startup programming partnerships with universities and collaboration of startups with defence majors’ supply chains.
• S. and Indian officials affirmed that INDUS-X will catalyze innovation and help equip both countries’ armed forces with the capabilities they need to defend a free and open Indo-Pacific.

MORE ABOUT INDUS-X:

• The INDUS X event was co-organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Ministry of Defence, and US Department of Defence (DoD) and hosted by US-India Business Council (USIBC).
• Indian and American startups will now be able to co-develop and co-produce advanced technologies, including in areas of space artificial intelligence, under the India-United States Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X).
• INDUS-X will create jobs for working families in both countries and promote global peace, security, and prosperity.

About Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET):

• It was launched by the US President and Indian Prime Minister on the sidelines of the Quad summit on May 2022.
• Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) is launched to elevate and expand strategic technology partnership and defense industrial cooperation between the governments, businesses, and academic institutions of two countries.
• Enhancing long-term research and development cooperation, with a focus on identifying maritime security and intelligence surveillance reconnaissance (ISR) operational use cases.
• Launching a new “Innovation Bridge” that will connect U.S. and Indian defense startups.
• Expanding the agenda of the U.S.-India Civil Space Joint Working Group to include planetary defense.
• Advancing cooperation on research and development in 5G and 6G, facilitating deployment and adoption of Open RAN in India, and fostering global economies of scale within the sector.

SYLLABUS: PRELIMS, CURRENT AFFAIRS