From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Nov 19: Australian Prime Minister (PM) Scott Morrison has said his country plans to take bilateral relationship with India to new heights by working together in frontier technologies.
He was speaking at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2020 in Bengaluru on Thursday in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swiss Confederation Vice President of Guy Parmelin joined him in a virtual conference.
"Australia and India have unlimited possibilities of working together in Space research, critical minerals, 5G, AI, quantum computing and much more. We have signed the landmark Australia – India Technology Framework on cyber and cyber enabled technology," said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison
Scott Morrison also highlighted that Australia and India are working together for an open, free, safe and secure internet.
"We will be soon launching Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technologies Partnership grant program. The relationship between India and Australia is going from strength to strength, we share a deep desire to succeed and see our region prosper in peace and safety, as ultimately that is all our technology ambition is all about, the prosperity and safety of us all," he said adding, "That is the foundation for digital economies to thrive.’’
The Australian Prime Minister said he is proud to be leading a 150 strong virtual delegation of Australian policy makers, industry leaders, startups and world-leading institutions to Bengaluru Tech Summit.
"Bengaluru, India’s biggest technology cluster, 4th biggest in the world, home to a 3rd of India’s tech professionals and to at least 25 Austrian companies, is pulsing with energy and ambition and it is a place where it is easy to believe that “Next is Now”," he said.
When the world is facing a global economic and health crisis which as costs lives and livelihood, Scott Morrison said Australia has faced the challenges of these times head-on with accelerated adaptation, from keeping businesses running, keeping families connected through adapting technology.
"Australia has seen a rapid uptake in technology during the pandemic. In the first 3 weeks of pandemic a 1/4th of Australian businesses has changed the way they deliver what they do, almost a quarter changed what they do and almost 1/3rd of them expanded their online presence," he said.
He also highlighted the fact that at least 10 Australian companies came out with new technologies to support business continuity.
"We have always been great adapters and implementers of technology, we got plans to bank their rapid progress and support the adaption of technology to help them keep making the most during this had time," he said.
The Australian Prime Minister said Australia believes that technology holds the key to new science, medical research, reduce carbon emission, addressing global climate change, it is now at the forefront of foreign policy, security and defense.
"It is pushing us to new frontiers in civil liberties and law, data privacy and protection. That is why the countries like Australia and India are coming together to work on the new technology challenges and opportunities," he said.
Scott Morrison also highlighted that his country's companies have employed thousands of professionals in Bengaluru and Indian companies are also growing their footprints in Australia.
"Australia–India Strategic Research Firm, Australia’s largest bilateral science firm with any country, is already forging relationships with universities, research institutes and businesses. In the past 10 years, 30 AISRF clients have funded Australian and Bengaluru based universities for some pioneering research like quantum computing, astrophysics etc.," he added.