India and Britain hold talks on expanding tech, space and nuclear ties

UPDATE - follow-up to India, UK explore cooperation in space, nuclear energy and emerging technologies: Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh held talks on Monday with UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Jonathan Reynolds in New Delhi to expand bilateral cooperation.

Delegations and Talks

The Indian delegation included Department of Science and Technology Secretary Prof. Umesh Waghmare and DST Adviser Dr. Praveenkumar Somasundaram. The British side included Reynolds, British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron, and Interim Permanent Secretary Amanda Brooks. Discussions covered startups, satellite development, small modular reactors, nuclear medicine, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

Space and Nuclear Energy

Singh highlighted India's space-sector reforms and proposed linking the country's roughly 800 space-tech startups with British counterparts. On civil nuclear energy, he mentioned reforms such as the SHANTI Act, 2025, and explored small modular reactors alongside nuclear medicine applications. Reynolds welcomed the engagement and stressed the need for regular institutional interaction.

Context

International technology and science partnerships help nations share high costs and pool research talent for advanced fields like AI and clean energy. Such bilateral meetings usually set the policy framework for future joint projects between universities and private firms.