India and the US have decided to collaborate in critical areas like artificial intelligence, space exploration, and defence technology with the launch of the US-India TRUST initiative, which will focus on boosting partnerships in emerging technologies, strengthening supply chains, and securing sensitive technologies.

Launch of TRUST initiative
The US and India announced the launch of the US-India TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology) initiative, which will catalyze government-to-government, academia and private sector collaboration to promote application of critical and emerging technologies in areas like defense, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum, biotechnology, energy and space, while encouraging the use of verified technology vendors and ensuring sensitive technologies are protected, the Joint Statement issued after a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington DC on Thursday said.

Launch of INDUS Innovation
The two countries also announced the launch of INDUS Innovation, a new innovation bridge modeled after the successful INDUS-X platform, that will advance the US-India industry and academic partnerships and foster investments in space, energy, and other emerging technologies to maintain the US and India leadership in innovation and to meet the needs of the 21st century.

The leaders also reinforced their commitment to the INDUS-X initiative, which facilitates partnerships between US and Indian defense companies, investors, and universities to produce critical capability for our militaries, and welcomed the next summit in 2025.

Plan for resilient supply chains                               
The two countries outlined plans to build resilient supply chains, particularly for semiconductors, critical minerals, and pharmaceuticals. By encouraging investments in Indian manufacturing—especially for active pharmaceutical ingredients—the U.S. and India aim to strengthen supply chains, create jobs, and mitigate the risk of life-saving drug shortages on both sides of the globe.

Cooperation in mineral exploration
While acknowledging the growing importance of critical minerals for emerging technologies, the US and India have also decided to work together to accelerate R&D and investment across the mineral value chain.

They have announced launching the Strategic Mineral Recovery initiative to recover and process essential minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earths from industries such as aluminium, coal mining, and oil and gas. This initiative will help secure vital resources for advanced manufacturing and tech development.

Cooperation in space area

In the area of space, both countries, while hailing 2025 as a pioneering year for their civil space cooperation, have decided to launch a groundbreaking NASA-ISRO collaboration, aiming to bring India’s first astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) through the AXIOM mission.

Additionally, the two countries announced the early launch of the NISAR mission, a joint project that will be the first of its kind to systematically map changes to the Earth’s surface using dual radar technology. This mission promises to offer valuable insights into climate change, natural disasters, and land-use changes.

The two countries also expressed their commitment to deepening space exploration efforts, emphasizing the need for long-duration human spaceflight missions, improved spaceflight safety, and expanded professional exchanges in emerging fields like planetary protection.

Partnership in science and research
In a move to propel technological innovation, the US and India have decided to deepen their scientific partnership through ongoing collaboration between the US National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Indian Anusandhan National Research Foundation. The partnership will focus on joint research in critical areas, including semiconductors, connected vehicles, machine learning, next-generation telecommunications, intelligent transportation systems, and future biomanufacturing.

This enhanced cooperation aims to foster innovation, accelerate technological advancements, and address global challenges by combining expertise from both nations in these emerging fields. The collaboration is expected to create new opportunities for growth and innovation in key sectors, positioning the US and India as leaders in the global technology landscape.