Mumbai, October 29, 2026: The next phase of UK–India economic cooperation is being shaped by surgical robotics, genomic research, carbon capture and financial technology. Technology, healthcare and advanced innovation emerged as major areas of commercial collaboration, with UK companies announcing partnerships, investments and export opportunities across artificial intelligence, semiconductors, cloud infrastructure and diagnostics.
At the recently held UK CETA Marketplace in Mumbai, British technology and innovation companies highlighted opportunities for deeper collaboration with India’s healthcare institutions, research organisations, industrial enterprises and digital economy.
As part of the UK’s largest regional trade mission to India, Jonathan Reynolds, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade said: “Our trade deal with India opened the door, and now regional businesses are walking through it with our northern Mayors leading the way in building partnerships to drive jobs, investment and growth. From advanced manufacturing to education, we want to continue to deepen ties with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies to bring opportunity for businesses and consumers in all corners of both countries.”
Among the notable companies was CMR Surgical, the British medical technology business behind the Versius robotic-assisted surgical system. As Indian hospitals increasingly evaluate advanced surgical technologies, robotics presents opportunities for clinical training, hospital modernisation and technology adoption. Oxford Nanopore Technologies, known for its DNA and RNA sequencing platforms, represented another important area of scientific collaboration. The company’s capabilities in genomic analysis have applications across healthcare research, infectious disease surveillance, biotechnology and life sciences. During the visit, Oxford Nanopore Technologies signed a memorandum of understanding with India’s Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council–Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, supporting the development of a Centre of Excellence in Hyderabad. The participation of Smith+Nephew, a global medical technology company, further highlighted opportunities in surgical innovation, orthopaedics and advanced wound management. Paxman Scalp Cooling, which develops technology to help reduce chemotherapy-induced hair loss, illustrated the growing relevance of patient-centred medical innovation. Carbon Clean, a company specialising in industrial carbon capture technology, highlighted the relevance of British clean-technology expertise to India’s industrial decarbonisation ambitions. For energy-intensive industries, including cement, steel, chemicals and refining, carbon capture technologies are key to determine emissions reduction and industrial competitiveness. Technology partnerships in this area could support feasibility studies, industrial pilots and the deployment of specialised solutions, depending on project economics and regulatory requirements.
Photo caption – Secretaries of State Jonathan Reynolds, Angela Eagle and Douglas Alexander join the Northern Mayors on a visit to India to strengthen the UK–India trading relationship and promote opportunities for businesses, investment and economic growth
RANsemi Limited announced a strategic partnership representing a potential export opportunity exceeding approx. INR 1270 crores over five years, while Meta for Data Technologies outlined plans to invest INR 635 crores in UK-based AI, data and quantum innovation hubs.
In healthcare, Panakeia Technologies is expanding its AI-powered cancer diagnostics platform into India, beginning with Dr Lal PathLabs, with projected export value exceeding INR 342 crores, expected to benefit approximately 115,000 patients. Asika announced hospital-sector partnerships in Hyderabad, while Kimia is introducing specialist pharmaceutical-grade materials to the Indian market.
Cloud technology company Civo announced an exclusive distribution partnership with Redington, while Oriole Networks is investing nearly INR 63 crores in its India operations. SmartViz expects to generate INR 228 crores through opportunities in intelligent building and infrastructure solutions.
Together, these businesses demonstrated the potential for modern UK–India partnerships that encompass clinical applications, research and specialised expertise.
Today marks 100 days since the UK-India FTA or CETA
In the week of 12 October, the UK’s Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds travelled to India alongside a group of seven Mayors and one combined authority leader from the North of England as well as the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Dame Angela Eagle and Secretary of State for Scotland, Douglas Alexander and over 100 businesses from across a range of sectors. Over £1 billion in new deals were announced during the visit boosting job creation and growth across both economies. The UK-India Free Trade Agreement which is called the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was central to this visit as ministers, businesses, university leaders and policymakers from both India and the UK announced several new partnerships in a bid to strengthen bilateral relationship.
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