As part of the trade deal, the UK will initially invest £1 million to pilot the new initiative and could potentially add up to £13m by 2022.

The aim of the partnership is to identify organisations within the two countries that can work in tandem to generate opportunities for tech entrepreneurs. Through mentoring relationships and staff exchanges, it is hoped that innovation and productivity will also be boosted.

The UK Government plans to engage in-country experts in New Delhi to work with the British High Commission to ensure that the impact is felt across the breadth of both nations’ expansive tech sectors and to help identify successful strategies, so they can be replicated in other regions.

The first pilot will connect the UK with Pune in Maharashtra, focusing on the Future of Mobility. The next port of call will be Bangalore where the focus will be on augmented and virtual reality. If it proves successful the partnership can be scaled up to include more regions that share a common tech expertise in both the UK and India.

UK India Tech Trade Initiatives

As part of the deal, the UK government has announced the extension of the Super Priority Visa (SPV) in an additional two cities, Pune and Bangalore, due to their status as major tech hubs. In addition, the NASSCOM and TechUK have set up the UK-India Tech Alliance, which will facilitate collaboration on building future skills in new technology.

Similarly, the UK also said it will launch a UK-India Tech Hub, which will focus on the fastest growing sectors such as cybersecurity, AI/data, digital manufacturing, healthcare, electric vehicles and digital identity. The UK Government also announced that Technology Summit II would take place in Autumn 2018: this event brings together top UK and Indian tech innovators, scientists, entrepreneurs and policy makers to scope and design solutions to tech challenges.

Julian David, CEO of TechUK, said:

“This is an incredibly important partnership and something tech businesses from both countries have been driving for. The UK and India are leaders in the development and use of digital tech, and there is a huge amount we can learn from each other and big opportunities to join forces in innovation.”

“India is also a key strategic partner for the UK, with world-class digital skills. Deepening our engagement will open up opportunities for business in both countries and help ensure we maximise the benefits of technology for our societies and citizens.”

Matt Hancock, UK Digital Secretary, said:

“Our world-leading digital economy is booming, worth more than £116 billion a year and employing more than two million people.”

“We’re determined to see this incredible success continue, and this ambitious UK-India Tech Partnership will bring together some of the best minds working in tech to unlock its future potential and deliver high-skilled jobs and economic growth in both countries.”