India and UK plan joint push in space, nuclear power and emerging tech

India’s Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh met UK trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds on Monday to chart deeper ties in space, nuclear power and new technologies. The Indian team was led by the minister and included Prof. Umesh Waghmare, the secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, and Dr. Praveenkumar Somasundaram, the department’s adviser for international cooperation. The British side sent Jonathan Reynolds, High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron and Amanda Brooks, acting permanent secretary of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. Singh said recent changes to India’s space policy have opened doors for private firms and start‑ups, allowing research institutes to focus on higher‑level work. He suggested that the two countries could build on this by linking the roughly 800 Indian space‑tech start‑ups with their UK counterparts to boost innovation and market reach. On nuclear matters, Singh highlighted reforms such as the upcoming SHANTI Act of 2025 that aim to broaden participation in the sector. Both sides discussed collaboration on small modular reactors, next‑generation nuclear designs and related manufacturing, citing the rising need for power and data‑centre cooling. Singh also pointed to uses of nuclear technology beyond electricity, especially in medical imaging and treatment, and invited British expertise in life‑science research. Artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cyber‑physical systems and cybersecurity were also on the agenda. Reynolds welcomed the idea of regular dialogues and joint projects between research bodies and businesses.

Context

India’s space reforms and nuclear policy updates are part of a broader push to involve private players in high‑tech fields. The UK has been seeking partnerships to expand its own tech base after Brexit. Joint work in AI and quantum tech reflects a global race for leadership in next‑generation industries.