It seeks to facilitate joint partnerships and projects
India and the Czech Republic have decided to elevate the India-Czechia relations in innovative sectors to a Strategic Partnership on Innovation, it was announced on Wednesday (January 10, 2024).
 
According to a Joint Statement on the partnership, it aims to leverage the complementarities of both countries in sectors such as start-up and innovation, cyber-security, digital domains, artificial intelligence, defence, nuclear energy and circular economy.
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who met in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, welcomed the adoption of the Joint Statement for India-Czechia Strategic Partnership on Innovation as a significant milestone in India-Czechia bilateral relations. 
 
Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala is visiting India from January 9-11, 2024 to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024. He is also scheduled to visit Jaipur where NIMS University will honour him with an Honoris Causa Doctorate degree.
 
"Determined to strengthen further mutual ties to address untapped potential for innovation cooperation and to facilitate joint partnerships and projects, India and the Czech Republic decide to elevate the India-Czechia relations in innovative sectors to the Strategic Partnership on Innovation and to further intensify bilateral high-level, professional and business exchanges," the Joint Statement noted.
 
According to the Joint Statement, the two sides have declared their intention to work together in the following areas of mutual cooperation:
1. Science, research, and technology 
2. Innovation driven trade and economy
3. Defence industry and cyber security 
4. Health sector and medical research 
5. Clean environment and green energy 
6. Smart transport, smart cities 
7. Sustainable agriculture and food processing 
8. People-to-people cooperation and scientific mobility 
 
According to the Joint Statement, India and the Czech Republic also underlined their commitments for multilateral cooperation as well as for the India – EU bilateral agenda, especially the conclusion of a free trade agreement and an investment protection agreement and operationalizing the India – EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) and India – EU Connectivity partnership to advance further the India – EU Strategic Partnership in the fields of trade, trusted technology and security.
 
Additionally, the two sides also committed to deeper engagement within the Indo-Pacific region based on an open, free inclusive and rules-based approach with respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and recognizing the promotion of effective rules-based multilateralism as a way to achieve global prosperity and commitments of the UN 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals.
 
During their talks, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Fiala discussed ways to advance bilateral ties, especially in the knowledge, technology and scientific fields. 
 
Prime Minister Modi noted that several Czech companies had partnered with Indian manufacturers in the defence, railways, and aviation sectors under the Make in India initiative. He also highlighted that the Indian growth story and robust industrial base of the Czech Republic make the two ideal partners in the global supply chain.