UK and India sign Tech Partnership

UK & India sign tech partnership

An ambitious agreement to identify and pair businesses, investors, universities and other organisations in the UK and Indian tech sectors has been signed.

Adapting a model used for the UK-Israel Tech Hub, the two governments will partner to encourage innovation and economic growth in both markets. The UK parties will aim to build on the estimated £358m of exports of digital services to India from the UK in 2015.

Along with the agreement, new commercial deals worth a total of £1bn were also announced by Prime Minister Theresa May and Prime Minister Modi.

The partnership will include:

• in-country experts working with the British High Commission in New Delhi, the Indian Government and the private sector to increase tech investment, exports and R&D.
• increased links between cities and regions in the UK and India
• closer ties between Tech UK and NASSCOM, the respective tech trade associations in each country, to encourage collaboration
• a pilot with Pune in Maharashtra focused on the future of mobility, and a link with Bangalore to focus on augmented and virtual reality, advanced materials and Artificial Intelligence
• a plan to share British expertise on cyber security and connect Indian organisations with leading UK cyber  protection companies
• the extension of fast Visa services to additional Indian cities and a study for the creation of a UK-India Advanced Manufacturing Centre

Digital Secretary Matt Hancock said:

"This ambitious UK-India Tech Partnership will bring together some of the best minds working in tech to unlock its future potential and deliver high skilled jobs and economic growth in both countries."