Trump 2.0 may bolster India's space and tech scene

As Donald Trump prepares to assume office again, India’s science and technology sector remains optimistic that bilateral cooperation with the U.S. will persist, even if slight adjustments occur in the trajectory, TOI reported.

The two countries are currently expanding collaborations across space exploration, quantum computing, AI, and advanced telecommunications.

Key partnerships, such as the Isro-Nasa agreement on space projects, continue to strengthen, particularly with joint initiatives like the Nisar satellite for Earth observation. Notably, Indian astronauts Shubhanshu Shukla and Prashanth Nair are training in the U.S., with Shukla set to travel to the ISS through Axiom Space.


The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), launched in January 2023, has also fueled wider collaboration, especially in semiconductors, clean energy, and advanced technologies. During the second iCET Summit in July 2024, both sides assessed the progress in these fields. Meanwhile, an MoU between the IIT Council and the Association of American Universities led to the formation of the India-US Global Challenges Institute, focusing on sustainable energy, health, and other critical areas.

“There’s no major red flag to expect drastic changes in S&T cooperation,” A.K. Sood, principal scientific advisor to the Indian government, told TOI. Highlighting the mature nature of Indo-U.S. cooperation, former Department of Science and Technology Secretary Ashutosh Sharma added that areas like quantum tech, AI, and biotech will continue progressing, describing the partnership as moving in a “consensus direction.”

(With TOI inputs)