Maiden INDUS-X investor meet held ahead of 2+2 ministerial dialogue

Subject: IR

Section: Military exercises

Context: India’s Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defence, organized the first ever INDUS-X investors’ meet

More about the news:

Before the 2+2 Indo-US ministerial dialogue, an event called INDUS-X investors’ meet was organized by India’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and the US Department of Defense.
During the event, the INDUS-X Educational Series (Gurukul) was launched.
Additionally, two defense innovation challenges related to underwater communications and oil spill detection were launched under INDUS-X, with applications currently under review from startups of both nations.
INDUS-X aims to enhance strategic technology partnerships and defense industrial cooperation between India and the US.

What is INDUS-X:

It is a major upcoming initiative under the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), with the aim to promote partnerships and collaboration between the defence innovation ecosystems of both countries.
INDUS-X is focused on advancing high-tech cooperation and exploring opportunities for joint research, development, and production in the defence sector.
INDUS X event aimed to foster collaboration between Indian and US start-ups in deeptech innovations especially in the domains of Space and Artificial Intelligence.

What is iCET:

The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) is a framework agreed upon by India and the U.S. for cooperation on critical and emerging technologies in areas including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors and wireless telecommunication.
It was first announced in May 2022, alongside the QUAD meeting in Tokyo, Japan.
Under iCET, both countries have identified six areas of cooperation which would include co-development and co-production, that would gradually be expanded to QUAD, then to NATO, followed by Europe and the rest of the world.
Focus Areas of the Initiative:
- AI research agency partnership.
- Defense industrial cooperation, defense technological cooperation, and defense startups.
- Innovation Ecosystems.
- Semiconductor ecosystem development.
- Cooperation on human spaceflight.
- Advancement in 5G and 6G technologies, and adoption of OpenRAN network technology in India.

What is Open RAN:

Open Radio Access Network, or Open RAN, is a key part of a mobile network system that uses cellular radio connections to link individual devices to other parts of a network.
It comprises antennae, which transmits and receives signals to and from our smartphones or other compatible devices. The signal is then digitised in the RAN-base station and connected to the network.
O-RAN uses software to make hardware manufactured by different companies work together.