Australia and India are taking their technology partnership into a broader strategic phase, with the two countries establishing a new framework covering cybersecurity, critical technologies, resilient supply chains, digital infrastructure and defence research.
The Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS) was announced by Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Narendra Modi in July 2026 during the third Australia-India Annual Summit in Melbourne. The new arrangement replaces the 2020 framework that previously guided bilateral cooperation on cyber and cyber-enabled critical technologies.
The expanded framework reflects the growing importance of technology and supply-chain security to both countries’ economic and national security interests. Rather than limiting cooperation to policy discussions, PACTS is designed to bring governments, universities, research institutions and businesses into more practical collaboration, including joint research, investment and the development of technologies and standards.
A major part of the partnership will focus on critical technologies, with Australia and India identifying opportunities across artificial intelligence, space technologies, telecommunications, biotechnology and advanced materials. Both countries also intend to support work on trustworthy and secure AI standards, research partnerships and access to critical computing and AI infrastructure.
Cybersecurity forms another central pillar. The two countries will work more closely to combat cybercrime, deter malicious cyber activity and improve protection of critical infrastructure. The framework also proposes stronger coordination on international cyber processes, practical joint workshops involving government and industry stakeholders, and the creation of a cyber technology skills incubator to help build specialist capabilities.
The partnership also places strong emphasis on resilient and diversified supply chains. Areas identified for cooperation include trusted technology vendors, semiconductor supply chains, critical minerals, secure undersea cable infrastructure and greater technology trade between Australian and Indian businesses. The countries are also looking at research collaboration aimed at strengthening the security of strategically important supply networks.
Digital resilience is another key component of PACTS, with Australia and India planning to explore how India’s Digital Public Infrastructure expertise can support digital development across the wider Indo-Pacific. The framework envisages pilot projects and partnerships in areas including connectivity, healthcare, education, clean energy, social protection and other foundational digital services.
Defence research has also been incorporated into the new technology architecture. Australia and India plan to strengthen institutional links between Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation, while encouraging cooperation between defence innovation and start-up ecosystems. Maritime technologies and advanced materials are among the areas identified for deeper research collaboration.
The new framework builds on a relationship that has already produced years of cooperation in cyber and emerging technologies. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says the Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership, established in 2020, has supported 28 collaborative research projects through five grant rounds, covering subjects such as quantum technology governance, telecommunications security, cyber resilience and post-quantum cryptography.
The launch of PACTS comes alongside a broader strengthening of Australia-India strategic ties. The two governments have also committed to deeper defence and security cooperation, including work on resilient critical infrastructure, critical minerals and clean-energy supply chains, while using cyber and emerging-technology cooperation to support a more secure and resilient Indo-Pacific.
With PACTS, Australia and India are positioning technology cooperation as an increasingly important part of their wider strategic partnership. The framework gives both countries a structured platform to move from individual initiatives towards longer-term collaboration spanning cybersecurity, advanced technology, digital development, supply-chain security and defence research.
