UK and India to Collaborate on Critical Minerals and Semiconductors through New Initiative

The United Kingdom and India have agreed to enhance their cooperation on critical minerals, semiconductors, and emerging technologies under a newly established Technology Security Initiative (TSI). This initiative is designed to expand research and development (R&D) efforts between the two countries, aiming to bolster their respective capabilities in these crucial sectors.

The TSI will facilitate policy exchanges on strategies and R&D partnerships to foster collaboration on critical minerals. A key component of this initiative is the establishment of an observatory involving the University of Cambridge and the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) at Dhanbad and Bombay. This observatory will serve as a data-sharing platform for critical minerals and supply chains, enhancing transparency and coordination.

Moreover, increased collaboration is anticipated between the British Geological Survey, the Geological Survey of India, and state-controlled producer Indian Rare Earths. These efforts will concentrate on improving the exploration and identification of rare earth element deposits, which are vital for various high-tech industries.

Additionally, universities in the UK and India are expected to form partnerships to develop technology for extracting critical minerals from end-of-life waste streams. One of the notable goals is the establishment of a joint Critical Minerals Recycling Centre in India, aimed at recycling advanced military waste and other waste streams.

Regarding semiconductors, the TSI will emphasize R&D collaborations on strategic issues such as supply chain resilience, skills exchanges, and hardware security. The initiative seeks to enable academic and industrial collaborations on compound semiconductors, chip design, intellectual property, and advanced packaging. These efforts will target strategic applications including net-zero technologies, advanced telecommunications, and cybersecurity.