India and UK Sign Pact to Establish Joint Innovation Centre for Telecom with Rs 282 Crore Investment

India and the UK have entered into a strategic partnership to enhance digital connectivity. This collaboration was formalised at the India Mobile Congress 2025, with both nations committing to invest £24 million, approximately Rs 282 crore, over four years. The agreement aims to foster innovation in the digital space.

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The partnership was signed by Catherine Page, Deputy Director for Technology, Spectrum and Strategy at the UK's Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, and Parag Agrawal, Deputy Director General at India's Department of Telecom. They agreed to establish the India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre (CIC).

Focus on Digital Connectivity

Page highlighted the commitment of both governments to this initiative. "Our governments have made a strong commitment to the new centre. We have agreed jointly to invest 24 million pound over a period of four years to bring together the world leading innovators, researchers and telecom businesses large and small that operate in both of our countries," she stated.

The CIC will cover a broad range of activities from early-stage research to practical innovation. It will focus on telecommunications, cybersecurity, non-telecommunication ideas, and the role of AI in telecommunications. This aligns with the India Mobile Congress theme: Innovate to Transform.

Bridging Nations Through Innovation

Agrawal emphasised that the CIC will serve as a "living bridge" between India and the UK. It will address current and future connectivity challenges by integrating academic excellence with market-driven innovation. The centre's efforts will include joint testbeds, collaborative R&D projects, and standardisation initiatives.

India's digital transformation has been remarkable in its scale and inclusiveness. The CIC aims to support this journey by facilitating cooperation between innovators, researchers, and telecom businesses from both countries.

The collaboration between India and the UK is expected to have a significant impact on real-world applications through enhanced connectivity solutions. By bringing together expertise from both nations, the CIC hopes to drive progress in digital connectivity and innovation.

With inputs from PTI