India and Australia launch technology partnership for AI, cybersecurity and critical supply chains

India and Australia launch technology partnership for AI, cybersecurity and critical supply chains

India and Australia launch technology partnership for AI, cybersecurity and critical supply chains

https://www.crnasia.com/india/news/2026/india-and-australia-launch-technology-partnership-for-ai-cybersecurity-and-critical-supply-chains

Publish Date: 2026-07-09 03:33:00

Source Domain: www.crnasia.com

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Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points.

The new Australia-India PACTS replaces the 2020 cyber cooperation framework and expands bilateral collaboration across AI, cybersecurity, semiconductor supply chains, digital infrastructure, defence research and technology investment.

India and Australia have launched a new strategic technology partnership covering artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, critical technologies and resilient supply chains, replacing their existing cyber cooperation framework with a broader bilateral programme aimed at strengthening digital infrastructure, technology trade and regional security.
The new Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS) succeeds the 2020 Framework Arrangement on Cyber and Cyber-Enabled Critical Technology Cooperation.
It expands collaboration beyond cyber policy into five strategic areas, including supply chain resilience, critical technologies, cybersecurity, digital resilience and defence research.
The initiative reflects growing strategic cooperation between the two countries as governments treat technology, cyber resilience and critical supply chains as economic and national security priorities.
Under the new framework, Australia and India will work together with industry, research institutions, universities and government agencies to develop joint projects, encourage technology investment and support commercialisation of research.
One of the key areas of collaboration focuses on strengthening trusted technology supply chains.
The two countries will develop a bilateral mechanism for trusted vendor frameworks, collaborate on protecting semiconductor supply chains, strengthen critical minerals cooperation, and expand commercial partnerships between Australian and Indian technology businesses.
The partnership also includes closer cooperation on undersea cable infrastructure, with both governments committing to improve information sharing, strengthen resilience and address risks affecting subsea cable networks across the Indo-Pacific.
On critical technologies, Australia and India will deepen collaboration across AI, telecommunications, biotechnology, advanced materials and space technologies.
Joint investment and industry collaboration
The two governments plan to support joint research, investment and industry collaboration while promoting international standards for trustworthy and secure AI. The framework includes cooperation on AI infrastructure, access to compute resources, large language models and AI skills development through partnerships involving academia and the private sector.
Cybersecurity forms another major pillar of the agreement. Both countries will establish a more streamlined bilateral mechanism for cyber and ICT cooperation, strengthen coordination on international cyber policy, encourage greater trade and investment between cybersecurity companies, organise joint cyber workshops and establish a cyber technology skills incubator to support workforce development.
Beyond cybersecurity, the partnership also aims to strengthen digital resilience across the Indo-Pacific.
Australia and India will work together to promote India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) approach, support pilot projects in partner countries and expand collaboration on digital transformation initiatives covering connectivity, healthcare, education, clean energy, critical infrastructure and skills development.
The fifth pillar focuses on defence technology cooperation. The two countries will strengthen collaboration between Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The aim is to increase research exchanges, deepen engagement between defence innovation ecosystems and pursue joint work in areas including maritime technologies, surveillance systems and advanced materials.
The broader framework signals a shift from policy-led cyber cooperation towards a wider strategic technology partnership covering government, academia and industry.
The agreement creates new opportunities for cross-border technology collaboration, investment and commercial engagement between Australia and India for technology vendors, research organisations and channel partners operating across AI, cybersecurity, telecommunications and critical infrastructure.