Science and Technology (S&T) Digest (16-30 November 2024), Issue 50

Dr Saroj Bishoyi, Research Fellow, VIF

January 13 , 2025 Views: 9 Comments: 0

In this Issue

I. Defence and Security

Centre of Excellence for Cutting Edge and Futuristic Defence Technologies

The Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE), on behalf of the Indian Army, and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), formalized a strategic partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) at MCTE, Mhow. This initiative is designed to accelerate research and development in cutting-edge technologies tailored for military applications. This landmark MoU underscores the commitment to develop indigenous solutions in emerging domains, including Quantum Computing, Cyber Security, Wireless Communication, Digital Twin, Sensory Augmentation, and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). Click here to read...

Induction of the sixth Missile Cum Ammunition Barge, LSAM 12 (Yard 80)

Induction ceremony of the sixth Missile Cum Ammunition Barge, LSAM 12 (Yard 80) was held on 22 November 24 at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. The contract for construction of eight MCA Barges was concluded with M/s SECON Engineering Projects Pvt. Ltd., Visakhapatnam, on 19 Feb 24, a MSME Shipyard. The shipyard indigenously designed these Barges in collaboration with an Indian ship designing firm and successfully model-tested them at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, Visakhapatnam, to ensure seaworthiness. Induction of these Barges will provide impetus to the operational commitments of IN by facilitating Transportation, Embarkation and Disembarkation of articles/ ammunition to IN platforms both alongside jetties and at outer harbours. Click here to read...

Self-Reliance & Indigenous Defence Capabilities

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan underscored that as India marches ahead on the path of progress and prosperity, self-reliance and indigenous defence capabilities are the foundations to enduring peace. While addressing the inaugural session of the Defence Partnership Days – organised jointly by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies and Indian Military Review, on 28 November 2024, in New Delhi, CDS underscored that a common thread that binds all stakeholders is National Interest. The whole enterprise of indigenisation will not succeed if the glue of National Interest does not bind all the elements. Stating that the investments in defence manufacturing takes time to accrue returns, and the time gap in defence R & D is even longer, and also the outcome can also be uncertain. Click here to read...

Launch of 8th Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge

The 8th ACTCM Barge, LSAM 22 (Yard 132) was held on 28 November 2024 at M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane. The contract for construction of eleven (11) Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile Barge was concluded with M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane on 05 March 2021, a MSME Shipyard. The Shipyard has indigenously designed these Barges in collaboration with an Indian Ship Designing firm and subsequently successfully model tested at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, Visakhapatnam to ensure seaworthiness. The Shipyard has successfully delivered seven of these Barges till date and are being utilised by IN for its operational evolutions by facilitating Transportation, Embarkation and Disembarkation of articles/ ammunition to IN platforms both alongside jetties and at outer harbours. Click here to read...

Induction of 25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug Bhishm and Bahubali

Induction ceremony for 25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug Bhishm and Bahubali was held on 28 November 2024 at NSRY (SVP). The contract for construction and delivery of six 25T BP Tugs was concluded with M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), Kolkata, on 12 November 2021. The shipyard has indigenously designed these Tugs in collaboration with an Indian ship designing firm. These Tugs will aid IN ships and submarines during berthing, un-berthing, turning and manoeuvring in confined waters thereby aiding the operations of ships directly. The Tugs will also provide afloat fire-fighting support to ships alongside and at anchorage, and will also have the capability to conduct limited Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. Click here to read...

II. STI in Space Sector

Defence Space Agency Conducts Maiden 'Exercise Antariksha Abhyas 2024'

The Defence Space Agency of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff has successfully conducted the Space Table Top Exercise Antariksha Abhyas 2024 from November 11 to 13, enhancing the Indian Armed Forces' strategic readiness for space warfare. Key components of the exercise included focused discussions on emerging space technologies, space situational awareness and India’s space programmes. The discussions highlighted the importance of monitoring and protecting critical assets and maintaining situational awareness in the increasingly contested space environment. It met its objectives of improving interoperability, fostering mutual understanding and enhancing cohesion between the tri-services and Defence Space Agency. Click here to read...

Strengthening India’s Geospatial Ecosystem

Policymakers, experts and industry leaders came together to discuss ways to advance India’s geospatial sector in alignment with the National Geospatial Policy (NGP) 2022 at the National Workshop on Strengthening the Geospatial Ecosystem at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 25 November 2024. The workshop organised by the Survey of India (SoI), the National Mapping Agency under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), featured extensive discussions on key aspects of geospatial development. Participants explored the collaborative roles of central ministries and state governments in implementing NGP-22 to build a robust geospatial ecosystem. The event also highlighted the impact of Operation Dronagiri, launched on 13th November 2024. Click here to read...

Raghu Vamsi Aerospace Group to Build New Facility in Hyderabad

Hyderabad-based, The Raghu Vamsi Group, which manufactures cutting edge High Precision, Life Critical products for Aerospace, Defence, Space, Oil & Gas and Medical sectors, which recently acquired UK Based PMC Group, laid the foundation stone for its new state-of-the-art facility in Hyderabad. The company has committed an investment of Rs. 300 Crore to build State-of-the-Art Facility near International Airport, which will feature dedicated manufacturing bays for 15 Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). The company’s future growth looks even more promising. In the last five years, Raghu Vamsi has grown at a CAGR of over 35%, with orders exceeding Rs 2,000 crore. Click here to read...

Importance of Regional Co-Operation for Strengthening Geospatial Capabilities

While inaugurating the event scheduled from 26 to 29 November 2024, Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the importance of regional collaboration in ensuring that best practices and use cases are exchanged to manage our resources effectively and responsibly. The UN-GGIM Asia-Pacific Conference on Geo-enabling Data Economy for Sustainable Development which was inaugurated today at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, brought together leading experts, policymakers, and geospatial professionals from the Asia and the Pacific region. It featured collaborative session with experts from Europe, Americas, Arab States and Africa. “India is deeply committed to strengthening the Asia-Pacific region’s geospatial capabilities through UNGGIM-AP,” Dr Jitendra Singh said. Click here to read...

Space Tech Accelerator to Empower Young Space Entrepreneurs

Vaanam Space Tech Accelerator which was launched in early 2024 is the first of its kind, sector-specific private space tech accelerator in India, aimed at supporting the growth of the space startup ecosystem in India with a particular focus on Tamil Nadu. Vaanam is an initiative by Hariharan Vedamurthy and Sameer Bharat Ram, entrepreneurs passionate about building a thriving space startup ecosystem. Vaanam's mission is to be India's first shop to accelerate space tech innovations and garner commercial know-how, and expertise to achieve a product-market fit in a short time. Vaanam functions as a springboard for early stage businesses and startups to provide specialized tools needed for startups to grow and innovate Click here to read...

President-Elect Trump Attends SpaceX Starship Launch in Texas

President-elect Donald Trump attended the launch of the SpaceX rocket Starship with company CEO Elon Musk. Trump’s presence at the SpaceX facility underscores his increasingly close relationship with the mega-billionaire Musk, whose political action committee heavily backed the Republican in the recent election. The 19th November’s launch at SpaceX’s Starbase site in Boca Chica was the sixth for Starship, the largest rocket ever built. The uncrewed spacecraft took off from the company’s facility near Brownsville, Texas. SpaceX aimed to catch the rocket’s “Super Heavy” booster once again with its launch tower, but instead the booster splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico. Click here to read...

III. Nuclear Technology

India Tests K-4 Nuclear-Capable Ballistic Missile from INS Arighaat

The Indian Navy carried out the test firing of the 3,500 Km K-4 ballistic missile from the newly-inducted nuclear submarine INS Arighaat on Wednesday. According to Defence sources, the test results are being analyzed, after which the officials concerned would be briefing the top military and political leadership. The test is crucial for validating the country's second-strike capability. The Indian Navy had inducted the submarine in August in the Vishakhapatnam based Ship Building Centre. The sources said that prior to the full-range test of the missile, the DRDO had carried out extensive trials of the launch of the missile to be fired from underwater platforms. The Indian Navy is now planning to carry out more tests of the missile system. The Navy has two nuclear submarines with the capability to fire ballistic missiles, including the INS Arihant and the Arighaat. Click here to read...

Securing Supply Chains for Nuclear Fuel

India should secure supply chains for nuclear fuel and develop indigenous technologies to ensure that nuclear power plays a larger role in our diversified energy mix, said Periasamy Kumaran, Special Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, at the CII Energy Security Conference in New Delhi. Kumaran further stated that phasing out of coal while managing the social impact on communities that heavily rely on coal will remain a critical challenge as the India targets the three goals of energy security, environmental sustainability and economic growth. He highlighted that the India’s ambitious targets of generating 500 GW of our renewable energy requirements by 2030, strong decarbonisation targets for the mobility sector, green hydrogen mission reflects its resolve to enhance energy security and sustainability. Click here to read...

Nuclear S&T Applications and Technical Cooperation Programmes

Nuclear science and technology have significantly impacted various aspects of human life, ranging from healthcare advancements to industrial processes. Global platforms such as the IAEA Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications and the Technical Cooperation Programme unite experts, policymakers and stakeholders to discuss progress in these fields and shape global nuclear policies, safety standards, and the socioeconomic benefits of nuclear technology. One major area of growth in nuclear science over the past decade is nuclear medicine, in particular in diagnostic imaging and cancer treatment. Radiation technologies are also increasingly applied in food irradiation and sterilization, and various industrial processes. Click here to read...

Nuclear Power in the COP29 Spotlight, in Azerbaijan

Nuclear power is in the spotlight at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Azerbaijan, where both countries and industries presented plans to deploy the carbon-free energy technology, building on the historic consensus to accelerate its use that emerged from last year’s climate summit. Reaching global decarbonization targets by 2050 will require a significant expansion of nuclear power. This was acknowledged at the first Nuclear Energy Summit in March 2024 as well as in the Global Stocktake at COP28 and the pledge by more than 20 countries to seek to triple nuclear capacity. Click here to read...

ENEC and Adnoc Strategic Collaboration Agreement to Explore Nuclear Tech

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) has signed a Strategic Collaboration Agreement (SCA) with Adnoc to research and explore developing innovative energy solutions to enhance energy efficiency in support of the UAE's energy diversification strategy. This agreement involves a comprehensive technical and economic assessment to identify the best-fit nuclear reactor technologies for adnoc by leveraging ENEC’s expertise in assessing technological performance in pilot projects as well as future technologies under development. This collaboration aligns with the UAE's Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to increase the contribution of clean energy sources and improve energy efficiency across the country. Click here to read...

IV. Emerging Technologies and Applications

The Development of a Semiconductor Unit in Morigaon, Assam

India’s ambitious strides in the semiconductor industry are best exemplified by the development of a semiconductor unit in Morigaon, Assam, spearheaded by Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt Ltd (TSAT). This project, set to become one of the country’s premier manufacturing sites, aligns with the nation’s broader goal of establishing a self-sufficient semiconductor ecosystem. With an investment of Rs. 27,000 crore, the Morigaon facility is expected to produce up to 48 million semiconductor chips per day, employing advanced packaging technologies like flip chip and Integrated System in Package (ISIP). Designed to cater to essential sectors such as automotive, electric vehicles, telecommunications, and consumer electronics, this facility is projected for completion by mid-2025. Click here to read...

Signing of Project Agreements under PACE Programme

The PACE programme by Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR) fosters collaborative research between Indian industries and R&D organizations, academic institutions, or universities. It emphasizes innovative work and supports the development of new technologies focused on the commercialization of products and processes addressing unmet industrial needs. Proposals targeting specific industrial sectors with practical applications are encouraged in this program. Projects demonstrating proof-of-concept with an aim to address significant unmet industrial needs are supported under this program. The program supports projects with a duration of 1 to 3 years. Click here to read...

Cabinet Approves Continuation of the Atal Innovation Mission

The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of its flagship initiative, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), under the aegis of NITI Aayog, with an enhanced scope of work and an allocated budget of Rs.2,750 crore for the period till March 31, 2028. AIM 2.0 is a step towards Viksit Bharat that aims to expand, strengthen, and deepen India’s already vibrant innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The approval underscores the government’s commitment to fostering a robust innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in India. With India at rank 39 on the Global Innovation Index and home to world's third-largest start-up ecosystem, the next phase of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM 2.0) is expected to further enhance India’s global competitiveness. Click here to read...

Host Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on Safety and Ethics in AI

The UNESCO South Asia Regional Office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Ikigai Law as the implementing partner, organized a stakeholder consultation on Safety and Ethics in Artificial Intelligence (AI) at UNESCO House, New Delhi on 14 November, 2024. This event marked the launch of a series of five consultations under the AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM), an initiative by UNESCO and MeitY aimed at crafting an India-specific AI policy report. The report’s objective is to identify strengths and growth opportunities within India’s AI ecosystem, while providing actionable insights for the responsible and ethical adoption of AI across various sectors. Click here to read...

DST to Announce Quantum Start-ups under NM-ICPS and NQM

Department of Science and Technology (DST) has established detailed guidelines to support and nurture startups in the field of quantum technologies. These comprehensive guidelines provide a structured framework for startups to access essential resources, funding opportunities, mentorship, and infrastructure support, empowering them to accelerate innovation and contribute to India’s quantum ecosystem. A Call for Proposals was launched earlier this year by the I-HUB Quantum Technology Foundation, a Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) established at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). The selected start-ups, representing cutting-edge innovation across diverse domains such as quantum communication, computing, sensing, and materials, were chosen through a rigorous evaluation process. Click here to read...

Soft Launch of India’s First Indigenous Antibiotic, Nafithromycin

In a ground breaking step for India’s biotechnology sector, Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh formally launched the first indigenous antibiotic "Nafithromycin" for resistant infections. The antibiotic "Nafithromycin" has been developed with the support of "Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council" (BIRAC), a unit of the Department of Biotechnology and has been brought to market under the trade name "Miqnaf" by pharma company "Wolkardt". It is the country’s first indigenously developed antibiotic aimed at tackling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). This innovation is designed to treat Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP), a severe illness caused by drug-resistant bacteria, which disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly as well as immune compromised hosts like Patients with Diabetes, Cancers etc. Click here to read...

V. International Cooperation

India-UK Cooperation on Design & Development of Electric Propulsion Systems

A Statement of Intent (SoI) on Cooperation on Design & Development of Electric Propulsion Systems for the Indian Navy was signed between Ministries of Defence of India and UK in Portsmouth on 28 November 2024. The signing was part of the third Joint Working Group Meeting of Electric Propulsion Capability Partnership, symbolising the commitment to promote indigenous development of niche technologies. The SoI would serve as a broader framework intended for cooperation in the co-design, co-creation and co-production of Electric Propulsion capability for future Naval Ships. The Landing Platform Docks, planned to be built at an Indian Shipyard, are envisaged to have a Full Electric Propulsion System. The SoI was signed and exchanged between Joint Secretary (Naval Systems), Shri Rajeev Prakash and Director, Ships Operations & Capability Integration, UK MoD Rear Admiral Steve McCarthy. Click here to read...

India-Australia S&T and Space Cooperation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Anthony Albanese MP held the second India-Australia Annual Summit on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Rio de Janeiro on 19 November 2024. In the joint statement, the two leaders noted progress under the Memorandum of Understanding between India’s Khanij Bidesh Ltd. (KABIL) and Australia’s Critical Minerals Office as an opportunity to grow commercial links and advance supply chain diversification interests. They welcomed the growing space partnership between the two countries, both at space agency and space industry levels. Cooperation to support the Gaganyaan missions, the planned launch of Australian satellites on-board an Indian launch vehicle in 2026 and joint projects between our respective space industries exemplify this deepening collaboration. Click here to read...

India-Australia Defence Industry, Research and Material Cooperation

Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Albanese, in the joint statement, highlighted the significance of defence industry, research and material cooperation, including in the maritime industry, and noted the first-ever participation of Indian defence industries in the Indian Ocean Defence & Security 2024 Conference in Perth and in the Land Forces Exposition in Melbourne. They underscored the need for boosting connections between Indian and Australian defence industrial bases and defence start-ups, including by opportunities for participation in each other’s major defence trade expositions. They also looked forward to the defence industry delegation visits between India and Australia in the near future to take forward the constructive discussions and delineate further steps. Click here to read...

India-Italy S&T, IT, Innovation and Start-ups Cooperation

India and Italy in the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 have agreed to expand cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, forging technology value chains partnerships in both countries in sectors such as telecom, artificial intelligence, and digitalization of services. Explore new avenues of cooperation in Industry 4.0, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, critical minerals extraction and refining, involving academia and industries, including SMEs and start-ups of the two countries. Taking into account Italy’s and India’s national research priorities, enhance innovation and research collaborations, also within the context of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), in areas of common interest. Foster interaction between start-ups and the relevant innovation ecosystems of the two countries. focusing on, inter alia, fintech, edutech, health care, logistics and supply chain, agritech, chip design and green energy. Click here to read...

India-Italy Space and Defence Cooperation

India and Italy have agreed to expand the cooperation between the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to include projects of common interest in Earth observation, heliophysics and space exploration with emphasis on lunar science. Enhance cooperation in advancing respective vision, research and development in peaceful and sustained use of outer Space. They agreed to hold, on a yearly basis, of Joint Defence Consultative (JDC) meetings, as well as Joint Staff Talks (JST) to coordinate exchanges of information, visits and training activities. They welcomed interactions between respective Armed Forces in the framework of Italy’s growing interest in the Indo-Pacific Region, aimed at increasing interoperability and cooperation, including negotiations of any useful arrangement supporting such interactions. Click here to read...

Joint Communiqué by the G20 Troika (India, Brazil and South Africa)

In the Joint Communique, the G20 Troika noted that Global growth at just over 3 percent is the lowest since the turn of the century when an average of nearly 4 percent prevailed till the pandemic. At the same time, technology is moving at dizzying pace, and if equitably deployed, affords us a historic opportunity to raise growth, reduce inequality and take one giant step towards bridging the gap in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Accelerating progress towards the SDGs requires inclusive digital transformation. The experiences of several G20 countries have demonstrated that well-designed digital public infrastructure (DPI) augmented by artificial intelligence (AI) can enable the use of data for development, creating new jobs and delivering better health and education outcomes. Click here to read...

VI. Regional and Global Trends

Intel Gets US $7.9 billion from Biden’s Chips Act for Expansion

The Biden administration has finalised a deal to give Intel nearly US$7.9 billion in federal grants, the largest direct subsidy from a programme to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing. The agreement for the struggling chipmaker, smaller than an earlier proposed award, means that Intel can begin receiving funds as it hits negotiated benchmarks on projects in four US states. The company will qualify for at least US$1 billion this year, a senior administration official said, based on milestones it has already reached. Specifically, Intel will get money for projects in Arizona, Oregon and New Mexico, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named as the details are not public. Click here to read...

China’s No 2 Foundry to Make Legacy Chips for Europe’s STM

European chip giant STMicroelectronics (STM) said that it will outsource the fabrication of legacy semiconductors to China’s second-largest foundry, in a deal that strengthens China’s role in the legacy chip sector. STM chief executive Jean-Marc Chery said at the company’s annual investor day in Paris that the firm will use Hua Hong Semiconductor to make 40-nanometre industrial microcontrollers (MCUs) for the mainland Chinese market starting next year, as part of a strategy to manage the risks of supply chain disruptions. The move signifies the importance of China’s EV market and the country’s progress in legacy chipmaking, amid Beijing’s tech self-sufficiency efforts to overcome Washington’s export restrictions aimed at keeping US core tech out of the hands of the Chinese military. Click here to read...

Impact of New US Chip Sanctions on China’s Chip Industry

China’s semiconductor industry is bracing for new shocks, as the US prepares to add several major chip equipment and materials suppliers on the mainland to its trade restriction list, dealing a fresh blow to the country’s push for technological self-reliance. Several chip fabrication plants and manufacturing partners of Huawei Technologies, which has been under US sanctions since 2019, will be among roughly 200 Chinese companies included in the updated export controls. Washington’s move is expected to also affect venture capital firms with close ties to the Chinese semiconductor sector, as well as upstream companies such as special gas suppliers. Click here to read...

US Weighing Additional Curbs on Chips and AI Sales to China

US President Joe Biden’s administration is weighing additional curbs on sales of semiconductor equipment and artificial intelligence (AI) memory chips to China that would escalate the US crackdown on Beijing’s tech ambitions, but stop short of some stricter measures previously considered, said sources familiar with the matter. The restrictions could be unveiled as soon as next week, said the sources, who emphasized that the timing and contours of the rules have changed several times, and that nothing is final until they are published. The measures follow months of deliberations by US officials, negotiations with allies in Japan and the Netherlands, and intense lobbying by US chip equipment manufacturers who have warned that tougher measures would bring catastrophic harm to their business. Click here to read...

Germany Prepares New Semiconductor Industry Subsidies

The German government is preparing billions of euros of new investments into the nation’s semiconductor industry, two months after Intel Corp shelved plans to build a 30 billion euro (US$31.6 billion) chip factory in Magdeburg, Germany. The new funds would be provided to chip companies to develop “modern production capacities that significantly exceed the current state of the art,” Annika Einhorn, a spokesperson from the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, said in a statement. The subsidies are expected to total about 2 billion euros, said two people who attended an official event about the funding plans this week and speaking on condition of anonymity. Click here to read...