India–Australia Strengthen Strategic Technology Partnership Through PACTS
Context
At the 3rd India–Australia Annual Summit held in Melbourne, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS). The initiative seeks to deepen collaboration in advanced technologies, cyber resilience, and secure supply chains while enhancing strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS)
What is PACTS?
PACTS is a strategic bilateral framework that institutionalises cooperation between India and Australia in the fields of cyber security, critical technologies, innovation, and resilient supply chains. Unlike earlier dialogue-based engagements, it focuses on joint research, technology development, industrial collaboration, and coordinated policy implementation involving governments, academia, research institutions, and private enterprises.
Participating Countries
- Republic of India
- Commonwealth of Australia
Primary Objective
The partnership aims to:
- Enhance technological security in the Indo-Pacific.
- Build trusted and diversified supply chains.
- Promote innovation in emerging technologies.
- Improve cyber resilience against evolving digital threats.
- Strengthen economic security and strategic cooperation between both countries.
Major Areas of Cooperation
1. Secure and Resilient Supply Chains
- Develop reliable supply chains for critical technologies.
- Promote trusted manufacturing ecosystems.
- Strengthen semiconductor ecosystem security.
- Enhance cooperation on critical minerals.
- Improve protection of submarine communication cables through Quad initiatives.
2. Collaboration in Emerging Technologies
- Encourage joint research in frontier technologies.
- Develop responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) standards.
- Promote cooperation on Large Language Models (LLMs).
- Expand partnerships in biotechnology, telecommunications, and space technologies.
3. Cybersecurity Cooperation
- Strengthen protection of critical digital infrastructure.
- Expand collaboration against cybercrime.
- Organise joint cyber capacity-building programmes.
- Coordinate on international digital governance frameworks.
- Develop skilled cyber professionals through specialised training initiatives.
4. Digital Connectivity Across the Indo-Pacific
- Promote India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) model.
- Support digital transformation projects in developing Indo-Pacific nations.
- Encourage cooperation in digital health, education, clean energy, and public service delivery.
5. Defence Technology and Innovation
- Foster collaboration between India’s DRDO and Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG).
- Support co-development of advanced defence technologies.
- Promote maritime domain awareness and surveillance technologies.
- Encourage partnerships between defence startups and innovation ecosystems.
Institutional Governance
The implementation of PACTS will be supervised through:
- A high-level executive committee jointly led by senior security officials from both countries.
- Regular Senior Officials’ Meetings to review progress.
- Continuous coordination among government agencies, industry, academia, and research organisations.
Significance
- Strengthens the India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
- Enhances resilience against geopolitical and supply chain disruptions.
- Supports a free, open, inclusive, and secure Indo-Pacific.
- Encourages innovation-driven economic growth.
- Expands cooperation in critical technologies with strategic and security implications.
Source : MEA