India-Japan space cooperation is a crucial element of their strategic partnership, encompassing maritime domain awareness, sustainable development, lunar exploration, and space sustainability. Their joint efforts enhance security, advance scientific research, and promote responsible space usage, reinforcing their commitment to innovation, stability, and mutual growth in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. Anupama Vijayakumar writes.
During Belgian King Philippe’s visit to Hanoi, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening energy partnerships through diplomatic exchanges and sectoral cooperation.Mechanisms to enhance investment in sustainable energy projects under the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement were also discussed.
The IAEA has helped the country use nuclear technology for early diagnosis and prevention of ageing-related diseases. This support has allowed the government to close data and knowledge gaps, improving detection of ageing disorders like sarcopenia and osteoporosis.
This mission launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida It was conducted in collaboration with SpaceX under the “FRAM-2” project which seeks to study how outer space affects human health. This marks Saudi Arabia’s first step in space research.
During PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Thailand, the two countries agreed to cooperate on areas including:, including Bio-Circular- Green Economy and LifeStyle for Environment, especially in the areas of renewable energy, and energy efficiency technologies and defence and security.
Tripartite agreement signed between the three countries seeks to develop Trincomalee in Northeastern Sri Lanka as an energy hub which will include a multi-product pipeline. MoUs were also signed in digitlisation, defence, health and multisectoral assistance.
Recent talks held between the two countries focused on strengthening partnerships in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, biotechnology, clean energy, electric mobility, cyber-physical systems, and green hydrogen.
The agreement signed during Chilean President Gabriel Boric’s visit to Bengaluru makes Chile the first Latin American nation to join Karnataka’s Global Innovation Alliance (GIA), a network of over 30 countries dedicated to fostering international collaboration in research and entrepreneurship.
Initiated by the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, the inquiry will explore “the UK’s science diplomacy and how the government should leverage scientific research and innovation to support its diplomatic goals, growth missions and national security”.
A joint statement issued by the International Telecommunication Union, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and International Maritime Organization (IMO), “called for urgent protection of the radio navigation satellite service (RNSS) that supports accurate global navigation and timekeeping”.
The UAE Cabinet approved the launch of the first integrated regulatory intelligence ecosystem. It introduces a proactive approach to legislative planning by using AI to streamline and monitor the effectiveness of laws and suggesting upgrades as required.
The first memo gives federal agencies 180 days “to develop an AI Strategy for identifying and removing barriers to their responsible use of AI”. The second memo provides “concise, effective guidance on how to acquire best-in-class AI quickly, competitively, and responsibly.”
The investigation launched by the Department of Commerce under Section 232 of the Trade Extension Act 1962 seeks to examine whether the US’s dependence on foreign sources for chips, semiconductor manufacturing equipment and pharmaceuticals poses a threat to national security.
“Discussions were held on national space programmes, bilateral space cooperation, space situational awareness, space security, Quad space cooperation, industry level cooperation and commercial space collaboration”. An industry cooperation event organised by IN-SPACe and Japan’s Cabinet Office was also organised following the dialogue.
As part of a joint initiative by UNESCO and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, a consultation was organised in Hyderabad on 8 April 2025. Deliberations focused on crafting an India-specific AI policy report that identifies strengths and opportunities for growth using UNESCO’s AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM).
Deliberations at the session held during 7-11 April 2025 is covered procedural and agenda-related aspects and legally binding and voluntary measures pertinent to norms of behaviour in outer space.
Cu-Phen is a self-assembled nanozyme designed with a catalyst-by-design strategy, composed of amino acid phenylalanine ligands coordinated to copper ions (Cu²⁺) and with an assembled nano-structure. The discovery made at the CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute It represents a significant advancement in artificial enzyme development, which could pave the way for biotechnology and energy research.
Nanocrystalline cobalt chromite magnetic nanoparticles with varying rare-earth Gd dopant contents using the conventional chemical co-precipitation route was synthesised. Superparamagnetic nanoparticles act as nano-heaters and can potentially be utilized in magnetic hyperthermia applications for treating cancer and offering alternative cancer therapy.
Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) researchers developed a bacteria-based technique to repair bricks for lunar habitats. Using Sporosarcina pasteurii, they reinforce sintered bricks, improving durability in extreme lunar conditions. This innovation aids future moon missions by enabling sustainable construction with lunar soil.
Developed at the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, the facility can conduct “precise testing and calibration of a wide range of underwater acoustic instruments such as hydrophones, transducers, and acoustic modems—vital for both strategic and civilian applications”. It can further“enhance India’s ocean observation and tsunami detection capabilities.
PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM-4) successfully managed a controlled re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere on 4 April 2025. Launched on Dec 30, 2024, as part of the Space Docking Experiment, POEM-4 successfully hosted 24 payloads — 14 from Isro and 10 from various non-governmental entities to collect valuable scientific data.
The problem: Many vehicles, including planes and cars, depend on GPS for navigation. However, GPS is vulnerable to jamming, spoofing, or disruption, particularly during military conflicts or cyberattacks. This poses a significant risk to national security and autonomous vehicles, which require reliable and precise location data.
The Solution: Australian Company Q-CTRL has created a navigation system called “Ironstone Opal” that uses quantum sensors instead of GPS. It operates passively, making it undetectable and resistant to interference, while offering exceptional accuracy by reading subtle variations in the Earth's magnetic field, like a location-based fingerprint.
Future Prospects: According to the company, the system has shown excellent performance in achieving precise navigation without GPS. The system is small and compact and could, in theory, be installed in drones or cars and aircraft. It could be a game-changer for navigation in hostile environments, GPS-denied zones, or deep-sea/mountainous regions where GPS doesn’t work well.
The Problem: “Water and energy are both critically needed for meeting daily needs and two-thirds of the global population are facing water scarcity. Boosting energy production often results in water depletion and green hydrogen is being increasingly perceived as a viable source of clean energy. However, green hydrogen manufacturing process is expensive due to the requirement of an excessive amount of clean water.1`
The Solution: Cornell University Researchers have developed a 10 by 10 centimeter (3.94 by 3.94 inches) device called hybrid solar distillation-water electrolysis (HSD-WE) which can split the water molecules into clean hydrogen and oxygen.. A key component is the capillary wick, which holds a thin film of seawater in direct contact with the solar panel. This allows for efficient heating and evaporation.
Future Prospects: their team’s device could reduce this cost of green hydrogen production from the current rate of $10/kilogram to $1/kilogram within 15 years. Beyond hydrogen production, this technology holds further potential. Integrating it into solar farms could even help cool the photovoltaic panels, boosting their efficiency and extending their lifespan.
The report sounds the alarm on growing inequality in the AI landscape and lays out a roadmap for countries to harness AI’s potential. It entails key insights on the evolving global emerging technology landscape:
AI is projected to become a $4.8 trillion global market by 2033, comparable to Germany’s economy.
Growing Inequality – Just 100 companies, mainly in the U.S. and China, control 40% of private AI investment, while 118 countries lack representation in global AI governance.
Job Disruption & Opportunity – AI could affect 40% of global jobs, raising concerns about automation, but also creating new industries if governments invest in workforce adaptation.
Call for Global Cooperation – The UN urges stronger international collaboration, proposing a shared AI facility and a public disclosure framework to ensure equitable access and transparency.
The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) launched the Asia-Europe Science & Technology Diplomacy Report. The report:
Maps the strategies, priorities, policy tools and performance across 40+ ASEF member countries across Asia and Europe.
Explores strategies for science diplomacy as well as initiatives and tools being used to implement these strategies across Asia and Europe.
It will function as a resource of information for different actors interacting with science, technology and innovation diplomacy – promoting and facilitating dialogue, knowledge exchange, and cross-sectoral and inter regional collaboration.
We welcome your comments and valuable suggestions. Please write to us for receiving publications, up dates and notices regarding seminars, conferences etc. Contact us at science.diplomacy@ris.org.in.
