Quad Launches Critical Minerals Initiative to Reduce Reliance on China
四方安全對話機制啟動關鍵礦產倡議，以減少對中國的依賴
The Quad grouping—India, Australia, Japan and the United States—has launched a new Critical Minerals Initiative to strengthen and diversify global supply chains for key resources such as rare earth elements, amid concerns over China’s dominance in mining, processing and refining. The move was announced at a recent meeting of Quad foreign ministers in Washington, DC, where members reiterated cooperation on maritime security, economic resilience, emerging technologies and humanitarian assistance. Rare earths and other critical minerals are vital for electric vehicles, semiconductors and defence systems, and China’s tightening export controls and regulatory barriers have raised fears of supply disruptions, price volatility and economic coercion.
The initiative aligns with the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan and encourages collaboration with emerging markets, private sector investment, and recycling of minerals from electronic waste to boost sustainability. India is supporting the effort through its National Critical Mineral Mission and participation in the US-led Minerals Security Partnership, focusing on lithium and rare earths for joint exploration and processing. For non-Indian companies, the programme is expected to open new sourcing and investment opportunities outside China, reduce concentration risks in manufacturing supply chains, and create alternative hubs for mineral processing and technology production, potentially reshaping procurement strategies across the EV, electronics and aerospace sectors.
編按：由印度、澳洲、日本和美國組成的「四方安全對話」（Quad）發起關鍵礦產倡議，旨在促成稀土和其他關鍵資源供應鏈多元化，減少對中國的依賴。此舉反應對中國出口管制及其在開採和處理礦產領域壟斷地位的擔憂。該倡議與七大工業國集團（G7）的計畫一致，致力於推動與新興市場的合作、資源回收和私人投資。印度透過其國家關鍵礦產任務和參與美國主導的礦產安全夥伴關係，為電動車、電子產品和航空航太等領域開闢新的全球採購和投資機會。
India and EU Conclude Historic Free Trade Agreement After Two Decades of Talks
印度與歐盟經過二十年的談判，達成歷史性的自由貿易協定
India and the European Union on Tuesday (January 27, 2026) announced the conclusion of negotiations on a long-pending free trade agreement (FTA), under which the EU will eliminate tariffs on 99.5% of items exported from India, with most duties dropping to zero as soon as the pact comes into force. India, in return, has offered tariff concessions on 97.5% of the traded value between the two sides. The joint announcement was signed by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The deal, first negotiated in 2007 and revived in 2022 after years of deadlock, will now undergo legal scrubbing and ratification by the European Parliament and all 27 EU member states.
Under the agreement, over 90% of India’s exports — including textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, marine products, chemicals, gems and jewellery, toys and sports goods — will gain immediate duty-free access to the EU, boosting competitiveness for labour-intensive sectors. The EU will secure lower or zero duties on machinery, automobiles, aircraft, medical equipment, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, while sensitive areas such as dairy and certain agricultural products remain excluded on both sides. Quota-based concessions were agreed for contentious items like luxury cars and wine. Services commitments span IT, professional, business and financial sectors. For non-Indian companies, the FTA is expected to reshape sourcing and investment strategies by creating a large integrated market of nearly two billion consumers, opening new opportunities to use India as a manufacturing and export base to Europe, and reducing trade barriers for multinational firms operating across both regions.
編按：經過近二十年的談判，印度和歐盟達成了歷史性的自由貿易協定。歐盟取消了99.5%印度出口商品的關稅，而印度則對97.5%的貿易額做出了讓步。該協定使大多數印度商品免稅准入歐盟，而印度則降低了歐盟機械、汽車和藥品的關稅。這個整合近20億消費者的龐大市場，將重塑全球採購和投資策略的格局。
India de-licenses lower 6 GHz band to roll out next-generation Wi-Fi
印度開放6GHz低頻段頻譜使用權，推出下一代Wi-Fi
India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has de-licensed the lower 6 GHz spectrum band (5925–6425 MHz), paving the way for Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 services and significantly faster wireless connectivity. Under a January 20 notification, low-power indoor and very low-power outdoor devices can operate in this band without a licence or frequency assignment on a shared, non-interference basis. The move is expected to improve high-bandwidth applications such as gaming, 4K/8K streaming, and AR/VR, while enabling new use cases in smart factories, digital healthcare, and enterprise networks. However, the band cannot be used in land vehicles, boats, or aircraft (except above 10,000 feet), nor for drone communication and control.
The decision follows consultations led by sector regulator TRAI, during which telecom operators opposed opening the band for unlicensed use, arguing it should be auctioned for mobile services, while technology firms and industry bodies backed de-licensing to meet rising data demand and support India’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem. Experts say the policy gives clarity for deploying data-intensive technologies such as AI, AR and VR in dense indoor environments and smart campuses. For non-Indian companies, the reform is significant as it aligns India with global trends in opening the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi, enabling device makers, chip manufacturers and platform providers to launch globally compatible products in the Indian market and integrate India more closely into international Wi-Fi standards and supply chains.
編按：印度電信部已取消對低頻段6 GHz（5925–6425 MHz）的執照許可，讓Wi-Fi 6 和Wi-Fi 7 服務，實現更快的連線速度，支援遊戲、串流媒體、AR/VR、智慧工廠和數位醫療等應用。儘管電信業者反對免除執照許可，但這項改革使印度與全球趨勢接軌，促進電子產品製造業的發展，並為設備製造商和平台供應商在印度市場推出全球相容產品創造了機會。)
India to revamp semiconductor DLI scheme with equity-linked incentives and tighter IP control
印度將修改半導體設計關聯獎勵計劃（DLI），導入結合股權獎勵並加強智慧財產權管控
The Indian government is reworking its Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme for semiconductor companies, shifting away from grant-heavy funding towards support tied to equity, debt or ownership of intellectual property, according to a report by The Economic Times. Under the proposed DLI 2.0 framework, incentives will no longer be limited to reimbursements, with policymakers considering instruments such as equity participation, debt financing and hybrid models including compulsory convertible debentures. The redesign aims to improve accountability and ensure public funds generate strategic and financial returns, after concerns over delayed reimbursements and audit scrutiny under DLI 1.0, where incentives were largely disbursed as grants without any government ownership or upside.
The revised scheme is also expected to prioritise strategic outcomes, particularly retaining semiconductor IP developed with public support within India, and may expand eligibility beyond startups and MSMEs to include larger, system-level and module-level chip designs with stronger commercial potential. While DLI 2.0 has received in-principle approval, key decisions on funding structures and ownership models are still under discussion and will require Cabinet clearance, with timing linked to the Union Budget and political calendar. For non-Indian companies, the shift is significant as it signals stricter conditions around IP and ownership for projects backed by Indian public funds, while also opening opportunities for global design firms and technology partners to participate in larger, more commercially oriented chip design programmes aligned with India’s semiconductor strategy.
編按：印度正在對其半導體設計關聯獎勵計劃（DLI）進行改革，推出DLI 2.0框架，從以往撥款為主的資助模式轉向股權、債務和混合模式，並將落實責任歸屬並確保公共資金產生戰略和財務回報。修訂後的計畫強調將半導體智慧財產權留在印度境內，擴大資格範圍至大型的晶片設計，落實更嚴格的智財所有權條款，為全球企業參與契合印度半導體發展策略的商業化晶片設計項目創造新機會。
Tata Group to invest $11 billion in ‘Innovation City’ near Navi Mumbai airport
塔塔集團將在新孟買機場附近投資110億美元建構「創新城」
The Tata Group is set to invest about $11 billion to develop a large-scale “Innovation City” near the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, aiming to position India as a global hub for artificial intelligence and semiconductor services. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said international investors are showing strong interest in the project, which will include a data centre and advanced digital infrastructure. Maharashtra, which accounts for over 10 per cent of India’s GDP and is home to major corporate and financial institutions, is pursuing the project as part of a broader push to upgrade Mumbai’s infrastructure and strengthen high-technology industries amid concerns over unemployment.
Located next to the Adani Group-developed Navi Mumbai airport, the proposed hub is expected to benefit from direct global connectivity and support high-value technology services, aligning with a surge in global investment in AI and cloud infrastructure by companies such as Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon. Consultancy McKinsey estimates global data centre demand could more than triple by 2030 to 219 gigawatts annually. For non-Indian companies, the project is relevant as it signals a growing concentration of AI, semiconductor design and data centre capacity in India, creating potential opportunities for foreign technology firms, chip designers and cloud providers to expand operations, form partnerships and access a large, fast-growing digital market.
編按：塔塔集團將投資110億美元在納維孟買國際機場附近打造一座“創新城”，建構結合人工智慧、半導體服務和先進數位基礎設施的樞紐，這是馬哈拉施特拉邦加強高科技產業戰略的一部分。該計畫毗鄰阿達尼集團開發的機場，擁有與全球聯通的優勢，也預示著外國科技公司、晶片設計廠商和雲端服務業者，在快速成長的印度數位市場，將擁抱更多的商機。
Asian airports tighten health screening after Nipah virus outbreak in eastern India
印度東部爆發立百病毒疫情，亞洲機場加強健康篩檢
Airports across parts of Asia have reintroduced Covid-style health checks following an outbreak of the Nipah virus in India’s West Bengal, according to The Independent. Thailand, Nepal and Taiwan have stepped up screening of travellers after five cases were confirmed in the state, where around 100 people have been quarantined. The virus, which can spread from animals such as bats and pigs to humans and in some cases through close personal contact, was detected in hospital staff, including a doctor and a nurse from the same district. In Thailand, authorities have increased checks at major airports including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Phuket for passengers arriving from West Bengal, screening for fever and issuing health advisory cards, while officials said no cases have so far been recorded in the country.
Nepal has intensified health checks at Kathmandu’s international airport and key land border crossings with India, with screening measures aimed at preventing cross-border transmission. Taiwan is considering classifying Nipah infection as a top-level notifiable disease, which would trigger mandatory reporting and stricter control measures, and said travel alerts would be reviewed as the situation evolves. The World Health Organisation lists Nipah as a priority pathogen because of its epidemic potential, with past outbreaks showing fatality rates of 40 to 75 per cent. For non-Indian companies, the renewed screening is significant as it could affect regional travel, logistics and workforce mobility, particularly for firms with operations or supply chains linked to eastern India and Southeast Asia, while also underlining the importance of health surveillance in business continuity planning.
編按：印度西孟加拉邦爆發立百病毒疫情後，泰國、尼泊爾和台灣的機場已加強了健康篩檢。目前，西孟加拉邦已通報5例確診病例，隔離約100人。有鑑於其高致死率，世界衛生組織已將此病毒列為優先關注病原。加強邊境檢驗可能會影響區域內的旅行、物流和勞動力流動，凸顯了健康監測對商務連續性運作的重要性。
Why India’s deep-tech startups struggle to scale despite a booming startup ecosystem
儘管印度的創業生態系統蓬勃發展，其深科技新創企業為何難以擴大規模？
India’s deep-tech startups face structural hurdles that make scaling far harder than for consumer-focused ventures, despite the country’s growing reputation as a global startup hub. Experts point to limited access to risk-tolerant capital, long research and development cycles, weak commercialization pathways, regulatory and policy uncertainty, and questions over domestic market readiness for adoption. These startups operate in capital- and knowledge-intensive fields such as semiconductor design, artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum computing, biotechnology and advanced materials, where returns are slower and failure rates higher than in app-based or platform businesses.
The challenges came into sharper focus in 2025 after Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal criticised the dominance of consumer services like food and grocery delivery in India’s startup landscape, urging greater emphasis on deep-technology innovation. While India has produced global-scale unicorns in fintech, e-commerce and SaaS, deep-tech ventures remain constrained by gaps in patient funding, industry-academia collaboration and demand from large domestic customers. Analysts say without stronger policy clarity, better technology transfer mechanisms and greater willingness among investors to back long-gestation ideas, India risks falling short of its ambition to build globally competitive deep-tech champions.
編按：儘管印度的深科技新創公司涉足半導體、人工智慧、機器人和生物技術等關鍵領域，但由於風險承受能力有限的資本、冗長的研發週期、薄弱的商業化路徑以及監管環境的不確定性，難以實現規模化發展。分析人士警告，如果沒有更明確的政策、更強有力的產學研合作以及具耐心的長期資金支持，印度可能無法建構具備全球競爭力的深科技領導企業。