The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) is a bilateral collaborative framework (concept/scheme) between the United States and India. It was first announced in May 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Quad Summit in Tokyo. The initiative was officially launched in January 2023 by the National Security Advisors of both countries to augment the strategic technology partnership and defense industrial cooperation. The core problem it addresses is the need to enhance national security and advance economic development by laying the foundation for a tech decade that favors democracies.
The initiative is led by the National Security Council Secretariat of India and the National Security Council of the US. It works through a structured framework that integrates efforts from governments, businesses, and academic institutions, utilizing mechanisms like joint task forces and research partnerships. Key provisions include establishing a joint Indo-U.S. Quantum Coordination Mechanism and signing an Implementation Arrangement for a Research Agency Partnership between the National Science Foundation and Indian science agencies. It also aims to resolve issues related to regulatory barriers and talent mobility through a standing mechanism.
iCET connects to other major initiatives such as the US CHIPS and Science Act and India's National Quantum Mission and the India-United States Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS X). It is considered an upgraded version of the previous U.S.-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI). Recently, the blueprint for the Bharat Semi Fab was revealed in September 2024 under iCET, and a May 2023 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed to establish a collaborative mechanism on semiconductor supply chain resilience.