India Tech Tracker - September 2023

MINT | SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

Aditya L1, India’s first solar observatory mission, has successfully escaped the sphere of the Earth’s influence. Launched on September 2 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the spacecraft has covered a distance of 9.2 lakh kilometers and is now navigating its path toward the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1). Considering the Sun as an enormous gaseous sphere, the goal of this mission is to thoroughly examine the star’s outer atmosphere. The aim is to place the spacecraft in a halo orbit encircling L1, located 1.5 million kilometers from the Earth and directly aligned with the Sun’s trajectory. This ambitious mission is expected to take approximately four months to complete.

 

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU OF INDIA | SEPTEMBER 29, 2023

For the first time, the chipsets or microchips that can receive and process the signals of NavIC will be designed and manufactured indigenously. A satellite-based navigational system developed by ISRO, NavIC enables users to determine their precise geographic location and track their movements, both in India and 1,500 kilometers beyond India’s territorial boundary.

 

HINDUSTAN TIMES | SEPTEMBER 23, 2023

U.S.-based chipmaker Micron Technology carried out the groundbreaking of its $2.75 billion assembly, testing, and packaging plant (ATMP) in Sanand, Gujarat. As per a statement released by TATA Projects, the contract awarded to them highlights the company’s proficiency in large-scale, sustainable infrastructure development in the Indian manufacturing landscape. The project will be situated on an area comprising 93 acres of land and will include 500,000 square feet of cleanroom space, with operations scheduled to start by late 2024. The project marks the largest investment under the India Semiconductor Mission.

 

GLOBAL TIMES | SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

The Shenzhou-16 crew livestreamed their first science lecture from China’s Tiangong space station, offering valuable experimental data and inspiration for future space scientists. The Shenzhou-16 crew provided a tour of the Mengtian lab module’s experimental cabins and conducted experiments that demonstrated how the space environment alters familiar phenomena observed on Earth. One such experiment involved a ping pong ball made of water, which adhered firmly to a standard racket but bounced off when struck by a towel-wrapped racket. Attended by more than 2,400 students and teachers on the ground, the lecture focused on practical principles relevant to spacecraft design. The space lecture also highlighted the importance of space technology and dispelled misconceptions about its cost-effectiveness.

 

ECONOMIC TIMES | SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

In collaboration with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Hitachi Payment Services, a subsidiary of Japan-based Hitachi, has launched UPI-ATM as a white-label ATM operated by non-banking entities. Touted as the Hitachi Money Spot UPI ATM, it allows customers to withdraw cash without using a debit or credit card. These QR-based cash withdrawals will mark a significant milestone in banking services by seamlessly integrating the convenience and security of UPI into traditional ATMs. According to the NPCI, this innovative concept is designed to provide quick access to cash even in the remote areas of India without the need for a physical card.

BREAKING DEFENSE | SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) plans to start transferring accurate data on satellite whereabouts and space debris to the Department of Commerce (DoC) starting next year. As per a senior Space Force official, the aim is to help the DoC’s effort to establish a space traffic advisory service. Following the 2018 White House Space Policy Directive-3, the DoC has been working to relieve the DoD of the burden of monitoring and providing warnings to non-military space operators about potential on-orbit collisions. The DoC’s Office of Space Commerce is still going to rely on the Space Force’s Space Surveillance Network of ground- and space-based radar and telescopes initially.

 

CNBC | SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

Official Chinese customs data showed that China exported zero germanium and gallium products in August 2023. This has happened after China initiated export curbs in July 2023 on grounds of national security and required exporters to seek a license to export germanium and gallium from August 2023 onward. Germanium is used in making fiber optics and is also employed in military applications. Gallium is used to manufacture chips for mobile phones and satellite communication.

 

REUTERS | SEPTEMBER 18, 2023

On Monday, Britain set out principles designed to prevent AI models from being dominated by a handful of tech companies to the detriment of consumers and businesses by emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency. Britain's antitrust regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority, is trying to control some of the potential negative consequences of AI without stifling innovation. To this end, the scope of these principles includes regulating foundational models by making developers accountable and preventing anti-competitive practices such as tying or bundling.

 

THE WHITE HOUSE | SEPTEMBER 12, 2023

The White House has announced that Adobe, IBM, and Nvidia are among the eight new companies that have signed up for U.S. President Joe Biden’s voluntary AI governance scheme. Originally aimed at the big AI labs—OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind—the initiative is designed to encourage signatories to uphold specific governance standards, including watermarking AI-generated content. The White House agreement also holds signatories to safety commitments, such as testing output for misinformation and security risks. They are also expected to share information on risk-reduction methods with the wider community and invest in cybersecurity measures.

 

FINANCIAL TIMES | SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

To mitigate the spread of digitally manipulated images for political gain, Google has asked their verified advertisers to issue a “prominent” disclosure for a campaign ad that inauthentically depicts people or events. This policy is slated to take effect in mid-November, a year ahead of the U.S. presidential and congressional elections.

THE WHITE HOUSE | SEPTEMBER 18, 2023

Thirty-two coastal Atlantic countries from Africa, Europe, North America, South America, and the Caribbean initiated the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation by adopting a Declaration on Atlantic Cooperation during the UN General Assembly. The first of its kind, this forum encompasses both North and South Atlantic countries and aims to foster collaboration on shared principles, such as an open Atlantic free from interference. The partnership will focus on expanding cooperation and upholding shared principles while addressing various issues like science and technology, sustainable ocean economy, and climate change. The participating nations have endorsed a comprehensive plan of action that outlines their initial joint endeavors. These encompass scientific collaboration, enhancing maritime awareness, and nurturing young Atlantic scientists. Participating countries include Angola, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, and many others, marking a significant step toward regional cooperation in the Atlantic.

 

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU OF INDIA | SEPTEMBER 9, 2023

Under India’s Presidency, the G20 achieved a landmark consensus reflected in the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration. The document notes the transformative role of digital technologies in achieving SDGs and endorses the G20 Principles on Harnessing Data for Development (D4D). The document also highlights the potential of digital public infrastructure (DPI) for inclusive and sustainable development and the role of data free flow for achieving scale and interoperability in DPIs. The declaration welcomed the G20 Framework for Systems of Digital Public Infrastructure and India’s plan to build and maintain a virtual Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository (GDPIR) that would be voluntarily shared by G20 members and others. Further, the members welcomed the proposal to create the One Future Alliance (OFA), a voluntary initiative aimed at building capacity as well as providing technical assistance and adequate funding support for implementing DPI in low- to middle-income countries. The G20 members agreed on the responsible use of AI and reaffirmed their support for multilateralism, reform of international financial institutions, green development, and the One Health Approach, among other themes.

 

THE WHITE HOUSE | SEPTEMBER 9, 2023

At the G20 event on the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, the leaders of the United States, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union announced an India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. The corridor will aim to connect commercial hubs in the member countries, facilitate the development and export of clean energy, lay undersea cables, and link energy grids and telecommunications lines to expand reliable access to electricity.

 

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU OF INDIA | SEPTEMBER 9, 2023

Along with the leaders of Singapore, Bangladesh, Italy, the USA, Brazil, Argentina, Mauritius, and the UAE, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. An initiative led by India as the G20 Chair, the GBA intends to expedite the global uptake of biofuels by facilitating technological advancements, intensifying the utilization of sustainable biofuels, and shaping robust standard setting and certification through the participation of a wide spectrum of stakeholders. The alliance will also act as a central knowledge repository and an expert hub.

 

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU OF INDIA | SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

The joint statement released by the governments of the United States and India reaffirmed the defining role of technology in deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries. Expressing satisfaction at the progress of various sectors within iCET, the statement reiterated the commitment to build open, accessible, secure, and resilient technology ecosystems and value chains. The leaders welcomed efforts toward the establishment of a working group for commercial space collaboration under the existing India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group and expressed the intent to increase coordination on planetary defense. They further acknowledged the setting up of two joint task forces for collaboration in the field of Open RAN and research and development in 5G/6G technologies. Other areas mentioned in the statement include co-operation on defense equipment procurement, nuclear energy, and reducing the digital gender gap.

THE ECONOMIC TIMES | SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

The Indian Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is set to host the Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS), 2023, in Mumbai, India. The summit will bring together global maritime stakeholders, fostering collaboration on investment opportunities and promotion of best practices for the sector. Furthermore, it will also focus on a wide range of themes, including maritime sustainability, innovation, technology, tourism, indigenous shipbuilding and repair, and maritime security.

 

DATAQUEST | SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will be organizing the Global IndiaAI Summit 2023. According to the Press Information Bureau of India, the summit is tentatively scheduled for October 14 and 15. There will be participation from leading AI players, researchers, startups, and investors in India and worldwide. The event will focus on a range of themes, such as next-generation learning and foundational AI models, AI’s applications in healthcare, governance, and next-gen electric vehicles, future AI research trends, AI computing systems, investment opportunities, and nurturing AI talent. The conference will also showcase India’s vibrant AI ecosystem, which includes initiatives such as DI Bhashini, the India Datasets Program, the IndiaAI Future Design Program for Startups, and the IndiaAI Future Skills Program.