Indian Navy signed a pact with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) on Tuesday to develop emerging technologies associated with quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and robotics. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) provides for the setting up of a technology incubation forum to collectively work on forming new technologies. The Defence Ministry said that the Technology Incubation Forum (ITF) exhibits the mutual vision of the Indian Navy and Bharat Electronics Limited towards innovative and creative thinking and promoting the development of emerging technologies. The broad charter of the TIF includes technology development in the field of weapons and sensors, information technology and emerging technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence, quantum computing, image processing, autonomous platforms/robotics, and cognitive radio, it said in a statement. The ministry said that the TIF would begin the mission-mode development of deployable products under the government’s “Atma Nirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) initiative with the involvement of academia, industry and start-ups. As per military officials, each side currently has about 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control in the sensitive sector. There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops in the left friction points as the Chinese side did not exhibit flexibility in their approach at the 11th round of military talks. The Army, in a statement, said that in Chandimandir, Gen Rawat praised the formation for their efforts to ensure force preservation and at the same time stepping forward to give support in terms of establishing Covid hospitals at Patiala, Chandigarh and Faridabad. He also lauded the force for providing paramedical staff in support of civil hospitals and extending help in the vaccination of common citizens. He emphasised the need to concentrate on training hard and remain watchful to prevent the nefarious designs of our enemies. He stressed that all ranks must keep themselves up-to-date with the latest trends in technology, rising cyber threats and countermeasures, the Army said. Image Source Also read: Defence ministry to acquire 11 airport surveillance radars from Mahindra Also read: Agalega: India's remote island military base in the Indian Ocean