India and US Forge Ahead with Semiconductor Plant and Drone Deal

PM Modi, Biden Bat For MQ-9B Predator Drone Deal, Building Chip Plant In Kolkata

They reaffirmed the US-India comprehensive global and strategic partnership, under which they charted various technological partnership initiatives together Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Joe Biden to discuss several topics, including the MQ-9B Predator drone deal and setting up of a semiconductor fabrication plant in Kolkata, with focus on advanced sensing, communication and power electronics for national security, next generation telecommunications and green energy applications. As per a statement from the White House, this arrangement will be established with the objective of manufacturing infrared, gallium nitride and silicon carbide semiconductors, and it will be enabled by support from the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) alongside a strategic technology partnership between Bharat Semi, 3rdiTech, and the US Space Force. The leaders held the bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Quad Summit. PM Modi and President Biden reaffirmed the US-India comprehensive global and strategic partnership, under which they charted various technological partnership initiatives together, the statement added. The leaders also hailed combined efforts to facilitate resilient, secure, and sustainable semiconductor supply chains including through GlobalFoundries' (GF) creation of the GF Kolkata Power Center in Kolkata that enhances mutually beneficial linkages in research and development in chip manufacturing and enable game-changing advances for zero and low emission as well as connected vehicles, internet of things devices, AI, and data centers. This development comes weeks after Modi chaired the semiconductor executives' roundtable at his residence in New Delhi, where he assured that the Indian government will follow a predictable and stable policy regime. Followed by that, he also said that the Centre has set up a special reserve fund with an outlay of INR 1 Lakh Cr to drive innovation in the semiconductor and science & technology sectors. The leaders of both countries also noted GF's plans to explore longer term, cross-border manufacturing and technology partnerships with India which will deliver high-quality jobs in both countries. On the spacetech note, the leaders acknowledged the progress toward the first joint effort by NASA and ISRO to conduct scientific research onboard the International Space Station in 2025. The next meeting in early 2025, will open additional avenues of cooperation, to pursue opportunities to deepen joint innovation and strategic collaborations, including by exploring new platforms in civil and commercial space domains, as per the statement from the White House. Modi and Biden also welcomed the launch of a new US-India Advanced Materials R&D Forum to expand collaboration between American and Indian universities, national laboratories, and private sector researchers. AI advancement is acting as a spine to the global economy today, and it is highly essential for the governments to aid research and development across fields to sustain the market in achieving AI's full potential.

Biden, Modi hail Indo-US arrangement to establish semiconductor fab plant in Kolkata

US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have hailed a landmark arrangement to establish a new advanced semiconductor fabrication plant. The chip manufacturing plant will be focused on advanced sensing, communication, and power electronics for national security, next generation telecommunications, and green energy applications. The two leaders praised combined efforts to facilitate resilient, secure, and sustainable semiconductor supply chains including through GlobalFoundries' (GF) creation of the GF Kolkata Power Center in Kolkata, West Bengal. The unit is the result of combined efforts to facilitate resilient, secure, and sustainable semiconductor supply chains. The new semiconductor facility will enhance mutually beneficial linkages in research and development (R&D) in chip manufacturing and enable game-changing advances for zero and low-emission as well as connected vehicles, Internet of things (IoT) devices, artificial intelligence (AI) and data centres, the White House said in a statement. The fab, which will be established with the objective of manufacturing infrared, gallium nitride and silicon carbide semiconductors, will be enabled by support from the India Semiconductor Mission as well as a strategic technology partnership between Bharat Semi, 3rdiTech and the US Space Force, the statement said. Also read US hands over 297 antiquities smuggled out of India during PM Modi's visit Our message is clear, Quad is here to stay: Narendra Modi at Leaders' Summit Meeting with Biden will help deepen India-US strategic partnership: Modi Long-term partnership The two leaders noted GlobalFoundries (GF's) plans to explore longer term, cross-border manufacturing and technology partnerships with India which will deliver high-quality jobs in both the countries. They also celebrated the new strategic partnership between the US Department of State and the India Semiconductor Mission, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in connection with the International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund. The leaders welcomed steps to build safe, secure, and resilient supply chains for US, Indian, and international automotive markets, including through Ford Motor Company's submission of a Letter of Intent to utilise its Chennai plant to manufacture for export to global markets, the statement added. Meanwhile, Biden and Modi also highlighted additional cooperation on building across AI, quantum, and other critical technology areas. They highlighted the second convening of the US-India Quantum Coordination Mechanism in Washington in August and welcomed the announcement of seventeen new awards for binational research and development cooperation on artificial intelligence and quantum via the US-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (IUSSTF). On emerging tech They welcomed new private sector cooperation on emerging technologies, such as through IBM's recent conclusion of MoU with the Indian government, which will enable IBM's watsonx platform on India's Airawat supercomputer and drive new AI innovation opportunities, enhance R&D collaboration on advanced semiconductor processors, and increase support for India's National Quantum Mission. The leaders commended ongoing efforts to build more expansive cooperation around 5G deployment and next-generation telecommunications which included the US Agency for International Development's plans to expand the Asia Open RAN Academy with an initial $7 million investment to grow this workforce training initiative worldwide, including in South Asia with Indian institutions. SHARE Copy linkEmailFacebookTwitterTelegramLinkedInWhatsAppRedditPublished on September 22, 2024

PM Modi, President Biden hail arrangement to establish new semiconductor fabrication plant, highlight bilateral cooperation in critical tech areas

The 'Joint Fact Sheet: The United States and India Continue to Expand Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership' released by White House after a meeting between PM Modi and US President noted the launch of a new US-India Advanced Materials R&D Forum to expand collaboration between American and Indian universities, national laboratories, and private sector researchers.US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed a watershed arrangement to establish a new semiconductor fabrication plant focused on advanced sensing, communication, and power electronics for national security, next generation telecommunications, and green energy applications. The fab, which will be established with the objective of manufacturing infrared, gallium nitride and silicon carbide semiconductors, will be enabled by support from the India Semiconductor Mission as well as a strategic technology partnership between Bharat Semi, 3rdiTech, and the U.S. Space Force. The 'Joint Fact Sheet: The United States and India Continue to Expand Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership' released by White House after a meeting between PM Modi and US President noted the launch of a new US-India Advanced Materials R&D Forum to expand collaboration between American and Indian universities, national laboratories, and private sector researchers. The Leaders also highlighted additional cooperation being built across artificial intelligence (AI), quantum, and other critical technology areas. They praised combined efforts to facilitate resilient, secure, and sustainable semiconductor supply chains including through GlobalFoundries' (GF) creation of the GF Kolkata Power Center in Kolkata, India that will enhance mutually beneficial linkages in research and development in chip manufacturing and enable game-changing advances for zero and low emission as well as connected vehicles, internet of things devices, AI, and data centers. They noted GF's plans to explore longer term, cross-border manufacturing and technology partnerships with India which will deliver high-quality jobs in both of our countries. They also celebrated the new strategic partnership between the US Department of State and the India Semiconductor Mission, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in connection with the International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund. "The Leaders welcomed steps our industry is taking to build safe, secure, and resilient supply chains for US, Indian, and international automotive markets, including through Ford Motor Company's submission of a Letter of Intent to utilize its Chennai plant to manufacture for export to global markets," the Fact Sheet said. The Leaders welcomed progress toward the first joint effort by NASA and ISRO to conduct scientific research onboard the International Space Station in 2025. They appreciated the initiatives and exchange of ideas under the Civil Space Joint Working Group and expressed hope that its next meeting in early 2025 will open additional avenues of cooperation. "They pledged to pursue opportunities to deepen joint innovation and strategic collaborations, including by exploring new platforms in civil and commercial space domains," it said. PM Modi and President Biden welcomed efforts to enhance collaboration between research and development ecosystems of the two countries. "They plan to mobilize up to over USD 90 million in US and Indian government funding over the next five years for the U.S.-India Global Challenges Institute to support high-impact R&D partnerships between U.S. and Indian universities and research institutions, including through identifying options to implement the Statement of Intent signed at the June 2024 iCET meeting." The Leaders also welcomed the launch of a new U.S.-India Advanced Materials R&D Forum to expand collaboration between American and Indian universities, national laboratories, and private sector researchers. The two leaders announced the selection of 11 funding awards between the National Science Foundation and India's Department of Science and Technology, supported by a combined over USD 5 million grant to enable joint US-India research projects in areas such as next-generation telecommunications, connected vehicles, machine learning. The Leaders announced the award of 12 funding awards under the National Science Foundation and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, research collaboration with a combined outlay of nearly USD 10 million to enable joint U.S.-India basic and applied research in the areas of semiconductors, next generation communication systems, sustainability & green technologies and intelligent transportation systems. NSF and MeitY are exploring new opportunities for research collaboration to enhance and synergize the basic and applied research ecosystem on both sides. The Leaders celebrated that India's Department of Biotechnology (DBT) along with National Science Foundation of the United States announced the first joint call for collaborative research projects in February 2024 to address complex scientific challenges and innovate novel solutions that leverage advances in synthetic and engineering biology, systems and computational biology, and other associated fields that are foundational to developing future biomanufacturing solutions and advance the bioeconomy. Under the first call for proposals, joint research teams responded enthusiastically and results are likely to be announced by the end of 2024, the Fact Sheet said. The two leaders highlighted the second convening of the U.S.-India Quantum Coordination Mechanism in Washington in August and welcomed the announcement of seventeen new awards for binational research and development cooperation on artificial intelligence and quantum via the U.S.-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (IUSSTF). "They welcomed new private sector cooperation on emerging technologies, such as through IBM's recent conclusion of memoranda of understanding with the Government of India, which will enable IBM's watsonx platform on India's Airawat supercomputer and drive new AI innovation opportunities, enhance R&D collaboration on advanced semiconductor processors, and increase support for India's National Quantum Mission," the Fact Sheet said. "The Leaders commended ongoing efforts to build more expansive cooperation around 5G deployment and next-generation telecommunications; this includes the US Agency for International Development's plans to expand the Asia Open RAN Academy with an initial USD 7 million investment to grow this workforce training initiative worldwide, including in South Asia with Indian institutions," it added. The Leaders welcomed progress since the November 2023 signing of an MOU between the Commerce Department and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to enhance the two countries' innovation ecosystems under the "Innovation Handshake" agenda. "Since then, the two sides have convened two industry roundtables in the U.S. and India to bring together startups, private equity and venture capital firms, corporate investment departments, and government officials to forge connections and to accelerate investment in innovation," the Fact Sheet said. (ANI)

PM Modi, President Biden hail arrangement to establish new semiconductor fabrication plant, highlight bilateral cooperation in critical tech areas

The 'Joint Fact Sheet: The United States and India Continue to Expand Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership' released by White House after a meeting between PM Modi and US President noted the launch of a new US-India Advanced Materials R&D Forum to expand collaboration between American and Indian universities, national laboratories, and private sector researchers. The Leaders also highlighted additional cooperation being built across artificial intelligence (AI), quantum, and other critical technology areas. They praised combined efforts to facilitate resilient, secure, and sustainable semiconductor supply chains including through GlobalFoundries' (GF) creation of the GF Kolkata Power Center in Kolkata, India that will enhance mutually beneficial linkages in research and development in chip manufacturing and enable game-changing advances for zero and low emission as well as connected vehicles, internet of things devices, AI, and data centers. They noted GF's plans to explore longer term, cross-border manufacturing and technology partnerships with India which will deliver high-quality jobs in both of our countries. They also celebrated the new strategic partnership between the US Department of State and the India Semiconductor Mission, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in connection with the International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund. "The Leaders welcomed steps our industry is taking to build safe, secure, and resilient supply chains for US, Indian, and international automotive markets, including through Ford Motor Company's submission of a Letter of Intent to utilize its Chennai plant to manufacture for export to global markets," the Fact Sheet said. The Leaders welcomed progress toward the first joint effort by NASA and ISRO to conduct scientific research onboard the International Space Station in 2025. They appreciated the initiatives and exchange of ideas under the Civil Space Joint Working Group and expressed hope that its next meeting in early 2025 will open additional avenues of cooperation. "They pledged to pursue opportunities to deepen joint innovation and strategic collaborations, including by exploring new platforms in civil and commercial space domains," it said. PM Modi and President Biden welcomed efforts to enhance collaboration between research and development ecosystems of the two countries. "They plan to mobilize up to over USD 90 million in US and Indian government funding over the next five years for the U.S.-India Global Challenges Institute to support high-impact R&D partnerships between U.S. and Indian universities and research institutions, including through identifying options to implement the Statement of Intent signed at the June 2024 iCET meeting." The Leaders also welcomed the launch of a new U.S.-India Advanced Materials R&D Forum to expand collaboration between American and Indian universities, national laboratories, and private sector researchers. The two leaders announced the selection of 11 funding awards between the National Science Foundation and India's Department of Science and Technology, supported by a combined over USD 5 million grant to enable joint US-India research projects in areas such as next-generation telecommunications, connected vehicles, machine learning. The Leaders announced the award of 12 funding awards under the National Science Foundation and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, research collaboration with a combined outlay of nearly USD 10 million to enable joint U.S.-India basic and applied research in the areas of semiconductors, next generation communication systems, sustainability & green technologies and intelligent transportation systems. NSF and MeitY are exploring new opportunities for research collaboration to enhance and synergize the basic and applied research ecosystem on both sides. The Leaders celebrated that India's Department of Biotechnology (DBT) along with National Science Foundation of the United States announced the first joint call for collaborative research projects in February 2024 to address complex scientific challenges and innovate novel solutions that leverage advances in synthetic and engineering biology, systems and computational biology, and other associated fields that are foundational to developing future biomanufacturing solutions and advance the bioeconomy. Under the first call for proposals, joint research teams responded enthusiastically and results are likely to be announced by the end of 2024, the Fact Sheet said. The two leaders highlighted the second convening of the U.S.-India Quantum Coordination Mechanism in Washington in August and welcomed the announcement of seventeen new awards for binational research and development cooperation on artificial intelligence and quantum via the U.S.-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (IUSSTF). "They welcomed new private sector cooperation on emerging technologies, such as through IBM's recent conclusion of memoranda of understanding with the Government of India, which will enable IBM's watsonx platform on India's Airawat supercomputer and drive new AI innovation opportunities, enhance R&D collaboration on advanced semiconductor processors, and increase support for India's National Quantum Mission," the Fact Sheet said. "The Leaders commended ongoing efforts to build more expansive cooperation around 5G deployment and next-generation telecommunications; this includes the US Agency for International Development's plans to expand the Asia Open RAN Academy with an initial USD 7 million investment to grow this workforce training initiative worldwide, including in South Asia with Indian institutions," it added. The Leaders welcomed progress since the November 2023 signing of an MOU between the Commerce Department and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to enhance the two countries' innovation ecosystems under the "Innovation Handshake" agenda. "Since then, the two sides have convened two industry roundtables in the U.S. and India to bring together startups, private equity and venture capital firms, corporate investment departments, and government officials to forge connections and to accelerate investment in innovation," the Fact Sheet said. (ANI)

Antiques form backdrop of 'fab' future as US-India set up semiconductor plant for national security - Times of India

WASHINGTON: Rare Indian antiques Washington is returning to New Delhi formed the backdrop of a "Fab" future in US-India ties as the two sides announced an unprecedented collaboration to establish a futuristic semiconductor plant in India aimed at advancing national security for both countries. The agreement, hailed as a "watershed arrangement" between the two sides, came after what officials described as a "personal" and "emotional" farewell meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden at the latter's private residence in Delaware.Biden will be demitting office on January 20, 2025, after strengthening bilateral ties advanced by a succession of US Presidents going back to Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. A joint fact sheet issued after the meeting said the fabrication plant will be enabled by support from the India Semiconductor Mission as well as a strategic technology partnership between the US Space Force and the private sector 3rdiTech and Bharat Semi. The "fab," with the objective of manufacturing infrared, gallium nitride and silicon carbide semiconductors, will focus on advanced sensing, communication, and power electronics for national security, next generation telecom, and green energy applications. The collaboration will be a giant leap for two countries that have made rapid progress in defense and strategic ties, overriding the last remnants of residual and institutional doubts about sharing advanced, critical, dual-use technology. It also comes at a time Washington is becoming increasingly guarded about critical technologies, legislating to boost domestic research and manufacturing through the Chips Act to counter China. In a clear indication that there is an "India exception" to this, the, fact sheet said Biden and Modi "directed their governments to redouble efforts to address export controls, enhance high technology commerce, and reduce barriers to technology transfer between our two countries, while addressing technology security, including through the India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue." The galloping US-India collaboration is powered in part by mutual trust engendered by the growing number of Indian-Americans in US defense sector, including General Atomics (led by Dr Vivek Lall), which has tie-up with 3iTech, which was founded in IIT Delhi and works across Indian and US tech eco-systems. Indian officials acknowledged that the joint venture will involve national security products but "whether you can call it a national security fab, I will leave the labeling and adjectives to you." "We have always been known as a repository of design talent in so far as semiconductors are concerned. But this shows we are breaking into the fabrication part of it and with the right support, right incentives and right access to technology and partnerships from outside, Indian startups can actually make a global mark," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said at a briefing after the Biden-Modi meeting. Several antiques from a cache of 297 that were stolen from India which the US is returning, including a 10th century sandstone Apsara and a 15th century bronze Jain Tirthankar, were lined up at the Biden home, as the two leaders powered bilateral ties forward with a series of technology partnerships for a future that is tying the two countries at the hip. They include collaboration in fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum, biotechnology, and clean energy. The two sides also announced a range of measures towards bringing about a transition to clean energy, both in the bilateral context and beyond, including a new initiative to accelerate the expansion of safe and secure clean energy supply chains through U.S. and Indian manufacturing of clean energy technologies and components. In its initial phase, the U.S. and India would work together to unlock $1 billion of multilateral financing to support projects across the clean energy value chain for renewable energy, energy storage, power grid and transmission technologies, high efficiency cooling systems, zero emission vehicles, and other emerging clean technologies, the joint fact sheet said. Much of this will go out of the window if Donald Trump, who is wedded to hydrocarbons, returns to the White House.

With US military support, India to get its first national security fab

Biden and Modi hail 'watershed agreement'; Fab will supply chips to US and Indian defence forces; India says it showcases success of startups globally In a pathbreaking agreement with the US, India is all set to get its first national security semiconductor fabrication plant that will supply chips to the US armed forces, its allied militaries, and Indian defence forces. The fab will be set up in India in 2025 and will be called Shakti. In the joint factsheet released after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with President Joe Biden in Delaware, the first paragraph in the section on charting a technology partnership for the future said that Biden and Modi "hailed a watershed arrangement to establish a new semiconductor fabrication plant focused on advanced sensing, communication, and power electronics for national security, next generation telecommunications, and green energy applications". The factsheet added that the fab will be established with the objective "of manufacturing infrared, gallium nitride and silicon carbide semiconductor", and will be enabled by the India Semiconductor Mission and a "strategic technology partnership between Bharat Semi, 3rdiTech, and the U.S. Space Force". Behind that statement lies a story of remarkable convergence. The US national security establishment has trusted an Indian start-up, led by two young entrepreneurs, Vinayak Dalmia and Vrinda Kapoor, with technology to produce chips that will then feed into America's security infrastructure as well as that of its allies such as United Kingdom. The startup, 3rdiTech, is collaborating with General Atomics, a US defence major, on a series of significant projects to boost defence technology capacity in India. The roots of the collaboration go back to the launch of the initiative on critical and emerging technologies (iCET) in January 2023, and more definitively, Modi's state visit to US in June 2023. Kapoor participated in the tech CEOs roundtable with Modi and Biden. The joint statement then had said, "The U.S. Department of Defense's Space Force has signed its first International Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Indian start-up 114 AI and 3rdiTech. Both companies will work with General Atomics to co-develop components using cutting edge technologies in AI and semiconductors respectively." At a press briefing held around midnight on Saturday eastern time, bleeding into the early hours of Sunday, soon after Modi landed in New York from Delaware, HT asked foreign secretary Vikram Misri, who also dealt with iCET in his previous role as deputy NSA, about the significance of the announcement, the technology transfer from the US Space Force, and whether this was India's first national security fab. Misri said, "The Indian company in this case, 3rdiTech, is a pioneering company and it has been working for the last few years in close cooperation with government of India entities and US entities...What this represents is first the increasing design and manufacturing capacities that are latent in India's semiconductor sector. We have always been known as a repository of design talent in so far as semiconductors are concerned. But this shows we are breaking into the fabrication part of it and with the right support, right incentives and right access to technology and partnerships from outside, Indian startups can actually make a global mark." Misri added that in this case, there were "obviously national security elements" involved on both sides. "There will be applications of the products in national security areas. Whether you can call it a national security fab, I will leave the labeling and adjectives to you. But yes I would say this is an enormously encouraging development. And we are sure there are many more startups that are capable of reproducing what these companies involved in this particular venture have done." According to documents reviewed by HT, this will be the first "multichip military fab" in the world. The advanced sensing infrared chips will be used for night vision, missile seekers, space sensors, weapon sights, soldier hand held sights, and drones. The advanced power electronic chips are to be used in satellites, drones, fighter aircrafts, high altitude pseudo satellites, electric vehicles, renewable energy, data centers, and railway engines. And advanced communication radio frequency chips will be used in military communication, satellite communication, electronic warfare jammers, radar and 5G/6G telecom. The manufacturers aim to produce 50,000 units every year to start with in phase 1. The fab will employ 700 people. With an ambition to build India's first home grown Integrated Device Manufacturer, the companies will invest in a knowledge center, called Saraswati, which will train 100 people per year. And this will be supplemented by a design center, called Durga, with 250 people. Those familiar with India's semiconductor journey and negotiations that preceded the announcement hail it as a landmark moment that gives yet another massive boost to the semiconductor ecosystem. A US-India partnership on these extremely critical and controlled technologies makes India one of the few countries in the world to have the capacity to manufacture these chips. The combination of central and state government support for the sector, the existing design skill, the recognition among partners that India and particular Indian companies have the tenacity and scale to emerge as a hub for the sector and add value at a time when the world is seeking diverse supply chains, and the strong support of the US national security establishment has come together to give the industry a huge boost. Commenting on the agreement, Konark Bhandari of Carnegie India, who is a leading authority on the subject, said that while the details regarding the fab are scarce at the moment, it was a welcome step. "The ability to work in a trusted way with other countries and their suppliers, will be key for India, and for any other country, to position itself as a viable location for semiconductor operations. Even the 2022 US CHIPS and Science Act has been predicated on funding being allowed for a 'Secure Enclave' project. This project is intended to create a specialised facility to make chips for the defence establishment in the US." Bhandari said that the fact that it was a "compound semiconductors fab" was forward-looking move. "This is important when you consider that compound semiconductors, essentially semiconductors made from two or more elements from the periodic table, show a lot of potential for growth. Compound semiconductors such as silicon carbide (SiC) or gallium nitride (GaN) are particularly well-suited for applications requiring high-power electronics. High-power electronics are being used increasingly in the renewable energy industry, among others, and are excellent in providing efficiency." The joint factsheet has another announcement in the semiconductor space. Biden and Modi praised "combined efforts to facilitate resilient, secure, and sustainable semiconductor supply chains including through GlobalFoundries' (GF) creation of the GF Kolkata Power Center in Kolkata". This center is expected to "enhance mutually beneficial linkages in research and development in chip manufacturing and enable game-changing advances for zero and low emission as well as connected vehicles, internet of things devices, AI, and data centers".

US Space Force to help set up semiconductor plant in India | India News - Times of India

NEW DELHI: India is set to establish its first national security semiconductor fabrication plant that will supply chips to the US armed forces, allied militaries, and Indian defense forces. The announcement follows a groundbreaking agreement between India and the United States, as detailed in the joint fact sheet released after the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden in Delaware. "President Biden and Prime Minister Modi hailed a watershed arrangement to establish a new semiconductor fabrication plant focused on advanced sensing, communication, and power electronics for national security, next generation telecommunications, and green energy applications," according to the joint fact sheet released following the meeting read on Sunday. "The fab, which will be established with the objective of manufacturing infrared, gallium nitride and silicon carbide semiconductors, will be enabled by support from the India Semiconductor Mission as well as a strategic technology partnership between Bharat Semi, 3rdiTech, and the US Space Force," the fact sheet added. The Leaders also commended the collaborative initiatives aimed at promoting resilient, secure, and sustainable semiconductor supply chains. A notable example is GlobalFoundries' (GF) establishment of the GF Kolkata Power Center in Kolkata, which will strengthen mutually advantageous connections in chip manufacturing research and development, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in zero and low emission vehicles, connected vehicles, internet of things devices, AI, and data centers. The leaders also welcomed recent private sector collaborations in emerging technologies. IBM has recently signed memoranda of understanding with the Government of India, which will allow the deployment of IBM's watsonx platform on India's Airawat supercomputer. This partnership will foster new AI innovation opportunities, enhance R&D collaboration on advanced semiconductor processors, and bolster support for India's National Quantum Mission. Both the leaders expressed their appreciation for the advancements made following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in November 2023. The MOU, signed between the Commerce Department and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, aims to strengthen the innovation ecosystems of both nations under the "Innovation Handshake" agenda. "Since then, the two sides have convened two industry roundtables in the US and India to bring together startups, private equity and venture capital firms, corporate investment departments, and government officials to forge connections and to accelerate investment in innovation," it added. Addressing a special briefing on PM Modi's visit to the US, Foreign Secretary Misri said, "India's emphasis is on minimizing conflict and division, leveraging democratic values even as we pursued development objectives, and highlighting the role of technology and the digital revolution in ushering in good governance, essentially to turn the disruptive features of technology to good ends." These themes were reflected during the bilateral meetings in Delaware, according to the Foreign Secretary. Misri noted that technology was a central focus in both bilateral and plurilateral discussions, as highlighted in the Quad fact sheet and the joint statement with the United States. "In the plurilateral meetings today, PM Modi underlined India's approach to cooperation, contact and engagement for growth with a variety of partners in the Indo-Pacific. It was striking to hear the other Quad leaders acknowledge India's actions," the Foreign Secretary added. The leaders welcomed the progress toward the first joint Nasa-Isro mission to conduct scientific research aboard the International Space Station in 2025 and appreciated the initiatives and exchange of ideas under the Civil Space Joint Working Group and expressed hope that its next meeting in early 2025 will open additional avenues of cooperation. They pledged to pursue opportunities to deepen joint innovation and strategic collaborations, including by exploring new platforms in civil and commercial space domains." The TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most."