India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre (CIC)

Why in news?

India and the UK signed an agreement at India Mobile   Congress 2025 to jointly drive innovation in the digital connectivity space with an investment of about Rs. 282 crore.

• It is a strategic partnership to advance cooperation in digital technologies and telecommunications.
• Aim – To drive innovation in secure, resilient, and inclusive digital communications, with a focus on 6G and AI-enabled telecom systems.
• Alings with – India-UK 2035 Vision, which seeks to deepen bilateral ties in science, technology, and security.

Key details

• Implementation – India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, and the UK's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
• Part of – UK-India Technology Security Initiative supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

UK-India Technology Security Initiative – Between India & UK; Will support crucial collaboration on telecoms security and unlocking investment for emerging technologies.

• Investment – Both countries have jointly committed £24 million (approximately Rs.282 crore) over 4 years to fund the center.
• Objective – The center will bring together academic researchers, innovators, and industry partners from both countries to develop next-generation telecom technologies.
• 3 key focus areas –
  • Transforming telecom with AI
  • Non-terrestrial networks (NTNs)
  • Telecoms Cybersecurity
• Act as bridge – It is designed to act as a bridge between early-stage university research and market deployment through lab testing and field trials.
• New opportunity – The initiative will create new commercial opportunities by enabling industry partners to innovate, test and scale products with a pathway to market adoption.

References

1. PIB | India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre
2. Economic Times | India, UK sign pact for telecom sector