The U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval chaired the second meeting of the U.S.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in New Delhi on June 17th. Building on the January 2023 launch, the U.S. and India have deepened strategic cooperation in space, semiconductors, AI, quantum, biotechnology, and clean energy. Emphasizing democratic values and Indo-Pacific security, they set a vision for co-production and R&D, enhancing innovation and coordination with like-minded nations. The major points discussed includes “Combining Capabilities in Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing” as follows:
- Bio-5 Biopharmaceutical Supply Chain Consortium involving key industry and government stakeholders from the United States, India, the ROK, Japan, and the European Commission, to enhance resilience in supply chains for active pharmaceutical ingredients and key starting materials, while fostering high impact R&D collaboration.
- Joint funding opportunity between the U.S. National Science Foundation and India’s Department of Biotechnology: It aimed at supporting collaborative research proposals to promote biotechnology innovation and advance the bioeconomy.
- Joint Strategic Framework to optimize bio pharmaceutical supply chains: It also aims to strengthen global supply chains and reduce dependencies on single-source suppliers. This effort is in support of Bio-5 and is led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of State, along with India’s Departments of Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- “Bio-X” initiative to promote biotechnology cooperation: It will be done by leveraging synergies between domestic programs and enhancing the competitiveness of the biotechnology industries in both countries, focusing on areas such as molecular communication and the Internet of Bio-Nano Things.
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