India and the United Kingdom signed a strategic partnership at the India Mobile Congress 2025 to boost innovation in digital connectivity. The agreement includes a joint investment of 24 million pounds (approximately Rs 282 crore) over the next four years to support research, technology development, and telecom innovation.
Setting Up the India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre
The partnership was formalized by Catherine Page, Deputy Director for Technology, Spectrum and Strategy at the UK’s Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, and Parag Agrawal, Deputy Director General at India’s Department of Telecom. The agreement establishes the India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre (CIC), which will operate across the full spectrum of connectivity research, from early-stage studies to applied innovation.
Focus on Real-World Impact
Page highlighted that the India Mobile Congress theme, “Innovate to Transform,” aligns with the goals of CIC. “We aim to bring together leading innovators, researchers, and telecom businesses from both countries to create real-world impact,” she said.
Bridging Academia and Market-Driven Innovation
Agrawal emphasized that the CIC will combine academic excellence with market-driven innovation. The centre will focus on telecommunications, cybersecurity, AI in telecom, and even non-telecom ideas that can transform the sector. It will also support collaborative R&D projects, joint testbeds, and standardization efforts, building on India’s extensive and inclusive digital transformation journey.
A Living Bridge Between Nations
“The CIC will serve as a living bridge between India and the UK, addressing current and future connectivity challenges,” Agrawal said, underscoring the centre’s role in fostering innovation and collaboration across both nations.
