A detailed look at what the possibilities may be for the four members of a new Quad
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- The story: A meeting between the foreign ministers of India, the US, Israel, and the UAE was seen as a new quadrilateral grouping coming into existence. The technology dimension of this particularly seems promising. Each country with its unique advantages in science and technology, innovation and start-ups can create a good collaborative leap.
- Nature of various collaborations:
- Israel and UAE’s startup sectors signed a deal to collaborate on fintech and digital security. The agreement between Start-Up Nation Central, an Israeli non-profit that connects the tech ecosystem, and Dubai International Financial Centre, the UAE’s financial hub, will create regulatory sandboxes and accelerators for start-ups and provide them with market access opportunities.
- The signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020 has resulted in multiple collaborative projects between Israel and the UAE.
- India and the US have been separately working with the two countries on multiple projects.
- In May 2021, the Israel-based company Ecoppia, that specialises in robotic solar cleaning technology, signed an agreement to utilise its manufacturing facility in India for a project in the UAE — an initiative supported by the International Federation of Indo-Israel Chambers of Commerce.
- Israel, the UAE and the US are also collaborating on water and energy projects.
- Technology Innovation Institute of Abu Dhabi is building the UAE’s first quantum computer.
- Israel and the US have made research on quantum technology a priority by allocating $91 million and $1.2 billion respectively to this sector. Tech giants IBM and Google have already achieved breakthroughs through their quantum computers.
- India is also fast catching up through its National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications and joining hands with countries like France to work on this technology.
- China, technology, West Asia: By collaborating with Russia, and domestic flagship initiatives like “Made in China 2025”, China has pursued emerging technologies and reduced the capability gap with the US. It even has a competitive advantage in some fields now.
- China has increasingly assisted a number of India’s partners in West Asia in infrastructure, connectivity and technology related projects.
- UAE was one of the first countries that got Huawei’s (A Chinese MNC) assistance for its 5G project.
- Only teamwork: With the speed that technology seems to be advancing, a solo national effort, made by even a global power like the USA, in developing and adopting these transformative technologies will not lead to optimal results. The US no longer enjoys the absolute technological lead it earlier had.
- Possibilities: For India, such partnerships can leverage US’s venture capital funding, Israel’s organic linkages between start-ups, industry, and academia, and UAE’s funding and focus on innovation.
- Bengaluru and potentially Hyderabad can add opportunities for scaling up and manufacturing with their vibrant technology base with multiple defence public sector units and research establishments, private sector companies and several startups.
- The agenda for the new Quad’s technology cooperation can begin by selecting three technologies - quantum science, blockchain, and 3D printing.
- These offer exciting applications for encrypted communications, cryptography, aerospace engineering, and manufacturing.
- The startup community in the US, Israel and the UAE have already reached an advanced R&D stage providing an opportunity for India to build expertise and offer the scale to the development and applications of these technologies.
- Israel has taken the lead in manufacturing about 40% of 3D printers worldwide and a Dubai based company has emerged as a pioneer in 3D printing in the region. India is slow in getting onto the 3D printing bandwagon but it can certainly benefit from the expertise of the US, Israel and the UAE.
- In blockchain, India and the UAE can leverage the American and Israeli expertise in cyber and cryptography to craft customised applications for use in banking, fintech and trade financing. This can contribute to reducing administration and transaction costs.
- Summary: If these four new Quad countries couple their innovation ecosystems to build new technologies, it will help the group go beyond only a government-to-government domain.
- EXAM QUESTIONS: (1) Explain the various emerging technologies that the "new Quad" countries can work on, together. (2) Is it true that in today's world, no nation, howsoever advanced and strong, can build new technologies singularly? Explain with examples.
#newquad #India #Israel #US #UAE
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