US and UK Forge Groundbreaking Atlantic Pact to Promote Emerging Technologies

by | Jun 10, 2023

The United States and the United Kingdom have recently signed a groundbreaking technology partnership agreement called the Atlantic Declaration. This partnership aims to propel forward critical and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, telecommunications, data privacy, and semiconductors. The declaration is a momentous milestone in US-UK relations, and it displays a commitment to investing in the technology of the future.

With the ever-changing technological landscape, this partnership between the two countries will ensure they stay ahead of the curve in emerging technologies. A significant aspect of the declaration is the commitment to developing and delivering a shared work plan on critical and emerging technologies. This plan will be updated and taken forward within the next 12 months, ensuring that the US and UK are better equipped to address new challenges as they arise.

This partnership also includes collaborations on privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) and aims to establish a US-UK data bridge to facilitate data flows between the countries while maintaining privacy protections. This will enable more responsible AI models to be trained, which could offer economic and societal benefits. The collaboration covers quantum technologies initiatives and joint R&D projects, and the UK government aims to deepen its cooperation with the US on technical activity in innovative 5G and 6G. The agreement covers not only technology, but also economic security toolkits and supply chain resilience.

As part of the agreement, the UK will expand Marshall and Fulbright scholarships focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects. This investment in education will help to ensure that the US and UK continue to produce the brightest minds in the tech industry. The US-UK Strategic Technologies Investor Council will also be set up within the next 12 months, bringing leading investors from both sides of the Atlantic together with national security experts. This council will play a crucial role in identifying opportunities for investment and innovation in the technology sector.

The technology collaboration falls within existing US-UK frameworks, and the government recognizes that current regulatory frameworks related to export controls, investment screening, sanctions, and research and development security are essential tools. The government is working to finalize assessments swiftly to implement this framework.

The Atlantic Declaration aims to advance safe and responsible AI while improving collaborative R&D in areas that support advanced semiconductor technologies. The council recognizes that these tools must correspond to a changing geostrategic and technological environment. This means that the US and UK are committed to staying ahead of the curve in emerging technologies and working together to address new challenges as they arise.

The partnership between the US and the UK is crucial, given the global impact of technology on the economy and society. By working together, both countries can collaborate on emerging technologies, invest in education, and identify opportunities for innovation and investment in the tech industry. This will help to ensure that both countries remain leaders in the tech industry, and will enable them to capitalize on emerging opportunities.

In conclusion, the Atlantic Declaration is a significant achievement and marks a new chapter in the partnership between the US and the UK. The partnership will undoubtedly lead to numerous economic and societal benefits. With the shared commitment to investing in the future of technology, both countries are well-positioned to lead the way in technological innovation. By working together, both countries can collaborate on emerging technologies, invest in education, and identify opportunities for innovation and investment in the tech industry. This will help to ensure that both countries remain leaders in the tech industry, and will enable them to capitalize on emerging opportunities.