India's Technological Partnerships with European Nations: Converging Priorities for a Future Global Order

Ever since the fall of the Soviet Union and the establishment of American Hegemony in the early 90s, the invention of the internet and the subsequent rise of technological developments have influenced the international system. India, with its vibrant democracy and youthful resilience, provides a strong market for foreign corporations to incentivise their operations of scale.

Illustration by The Geostrata

However, National Interests still take centre stage in influencing the decisions of world leaders when it comes to economic cooperation with other nations.

Professor Nye defines National Interests in the following manner: “In a democracy, the national interest is simply the set of shared priorities regarding relations with the rest of the world.”

This definition is linked to the question, as we focus our article on democratic nations such as India, the United Kingdom, France and Germany and the focus of shared priorities that will help improve relations with the rest of the world.

Therefore, technological sector collaboration between India and Western European States would be instrumental in formulating the future of the international system. Therefore, the remainder of this article is structured to analyse how India handles technological relations with these European states. 

INDIA'S TECHNOLOGICAL RELATIONS WITH FRANCE

The Strategic Partnership between India and France since 1998 that has been enhanced since 2023, includes the important aspect of Critical technology. This is important for states to protect digital data and maintain cybersecurity.

Based on the 2019 Indo-French Roadmap on Cyber Security and Digital Technology, both nations have decided to construct on the same that would focus on Digital Advancement and Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing and Cyber Dialogue through Multilateral Institutions such as the United Nations.

Due to Cyber-crime and threats emerging from external actors, it is important that both India and France take steps to ensure protection of securitized information and prevent the spread of radicalism. Through the joint statement earlier this year calling for the stakeholder collaboration for developing a safe and secure Artificial Intelligence for youth enhancement and development of Innovative startups that help in advancing the geopolitical interests of the nations.

The Ministry of External Affairs in India notes, “They will also strengthen their cooperation on R&D, innovation and the industrial applications of critical digital technologies while also focusing on the deployment of these technologies to address issues related to climate change and health.”

This will help both India and France to cooperate and exchange information that focuses on Cybersecurity developments and strategy to tackle the threats that emerge from the field. This will therefore help both nations to keep an open, inclusive, secure cyberspace. It has also helped India to trust European partners and try creating technological partnerships with other European nations.

INDIA GERMANY TECHNOLOGICAL PARTNERSHIP

Germany, being the largest economy in the European Union, also has the largest Critical Technology market in the world. India understands the importance Germany provides to the industry and takes collaboration with them seriously.

The establishment of the Indo-German Defence Technology Subgroup, introduced in 2010, was reinvented in 2022 by inaugurating the Indo-German Science and Technology Centre.

This Centre shall help facilitate and promote interaction between academia, government officials and industry experts that would assist in resource mobilisation that carry out industrial R&D projects in the field of Science and Technology. Both nations understand the developments taking place in the political economy and choose to take a refined stance.

Through collaboration and diplomatic outreach, the leaders have focused on research and development projects. According to Professor Pant,

“A prime example of this is both countries’ efforts to create greater autonomy on semiconductors. The EU’s Chips Act sets the target of EUR 43 billion investments into the European chip production and development until 2030.”

Though the setting up of the Trade and Technology Council in 2022 between India and the EU, Germany plays an important role in facilitating homogeneity while dealing with the licensing process of semiconductor components for supply chains, dealing with standards for hardware and software and lastly enhancing cooperation in the business-to-business sector.

India and Germany's collaboration in critical technology like semiconductors via joint R&D centers and coverage projects fosters strategic autonomy and strengthens technological prowess for both countries. 

INDIA UNITED KINGDOM TECHNOLOGICAL PARTNERSHIP

The flourishing India-UK technological partnership has been propelled by a shared commitment to foster innovation, sustainable boom, and cope with worldwide challenges.

Guided through the United Kingdom-India 2030 Roadmap, the two countries have at the same time invested over £four hundred million in research collaboration considering that 2008, allowing landmark tasks just like the UK-India Net Zero Innovation Centre, joint deep-sea expeditions, and the improvement of affordable vaccines in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Richard McCallum, UKIBC Group CEO, articulated, “At UKIBC, we see the future of the UK-India relationship and indeed our countries' relationships with the rest of the world being infused by technology collaboration. As each country helps the other solve local as well as global shared challenges.”

The partnership has expanded to critical domains such as AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, and responsible technology development, while the UK-India Education and Research Initiative has facilitated over 25,000 academic exchanges, strengthening the foundation for long-term collaboration.

In summation, India's growing technological partnerships with France, Germany, and the UK illustrate its dedication to innovation and strategic autonomy in vital domain names. By fostering collaboration in areas like cybersecurity, AI, quantum computing, and semiconductors, India aims to safeguard its virtual infrastructure, force sustainable development, and tackle global challenges.

These multifaceted engagements not simplest facilitate knowledge trade and resource mobilization but additionally lay the foundation for lengthy-time period cooperation through tasks like joint R&D facilities and academic exchanges.

As India navigates a more and more complex geopolitical panorama, strengthening technological ties with like-minded European partners aligns with its countrywide pursuits and aspirations for a more inclusive and steadier worldwide device.

The convergence of shared priorities in harnessing transformative technologies positions India and its Western European counterparts as catalysts for shaping the destiny contours of the worldwide technological order.

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BY SANJAY GURURAJAN

TEAM GEOSTRATA

info@thegeostrata.com