Policy paper

Memorandum of Understanding on economic cooperation and trade relations between Indiana and the United Kingdom

Published 27 May 2022

This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is made between the State of Indiana in the United States of America (“Indiana”) and the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (“the United Kingdom”). The United Kingdom and Indiana are each a “Participant” and collectively the “Participants”.

Whereas, the Participants, in recognition of the substantial economic activity between themselves, have established an enduring and productive relationship based on mutual interests;

Whereas, the Participants share the objective of deepening their already well-established economic development cooperation and trade relations to strengthen their businesses and create jobs in both Indiana and the United Kingdom;

Whereas, the Participants recognise:

• the overall importance of the economic relationship between the United States of America and the Participants, and the relationship between the United Kingdom and Indiana
• the advantages derived from strengthening and broadening sectors of mutually beneficial trade and investment
• the significance of working together to create a skilled and modern workforce to meet the needs of an innovative and digital economy
• the value of close cooperation and consultations between the Participants on economic issues to ensure open lines of communication and sharing of best practices
• the importance of working together, where possible, on matters of economic significance

Whereas, the Participants aim to promote and foster sustainable growth and support innovation and strengthen the green economy and address climate change.

Whereas, the Participants recognise that:

• research, technology, entrepreneurship and innovation are fundamental to economic growth and prosperity
• international collaboration is mutually beneficial to their researchers and businesses
• to succeed in the global innovation economy, there is a need to strengthen their respective abilities to accelerate the commercialisation of emerging technologies and the growth of domestic businesses, whilst conforming to proportionate standards of research security and integrity

Whereas, the Participants aspire to accelerate and secure the significant social and economic benefits that clean growth and decarbonisation deliver and to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in a manner which will build a greener and more resilient planet for vulnerable communities and future generations.

Recognising the strong and mutually supportive relationship between trade, regulation and innovation, and the contribution of each to economic growth and addressing shared challenges and affirming the Participants’ commitment to expanding their cooperation in this area.

Therefore, the Participants, in the spirit of promoting closer relationships, intend to further support and work cooperatively within the boundaries of existing laws and treaties in their respective jurisdictions on goals and issues as set forth below.

SECTION 1: OBJECTIVES

Objectives of this MOU include:

1. Enhancing cooperation

a. The Participants share the objective of deepening their already well-established economic development cooperation and trade relations to strengthen their businesses and create jobs in both Indiana and the United Kingdom.

b. The Participants share the objective of developing a structured framework of engagement to identify and promote opportunities for their respective citizens and businesses.

2. Accelerating the development of initiatives to advance low emissions technology

a. Particularly in relation to technologies needed to address climate change, in relation to electric vehicles, agriculture and manufacturing, and through collaboration and the sharing of best practices.

3. Removing barriers to trade and investment

a. The Participants will aim to identify, and where they exist, seek to explore solutions to barriers to free and open trade, leveraging policy and consultation mechanisms available.

b. Where appropriate, the Participants commit to considering and pursuing solutions to specific market access barriers, such as government procurement, and supporting regulators and professional bodies interested in pursuing recognition arrangements on professional qualifications.

c. The Participants commit to promoting representative and accessible trade missions with a focus on diversity and inclusion, which look to enhance the profile and networks of minority-owned businesses with focused delegations, joint roundtables and other diverse, targeted events.

d. The Participants will look at deepening commercial interactions, including mutual exchange of business delegations, appropriate sharing of market information as well as other cooperative activities.

4. Growing academic and research ties

a. The Participants will work to promoting collaborative projects, research, information exchange and the sharing of best practice and expertise regarding innovation, with a particular focus on priority sectors whilst simultaneously ensuring that any collaboration should conform to proportionate standards of research security and integrity.

SECTION 2: AREAS OF COOPERATION

In line with the principle of mutual benefit, the Participants share the intent to cooperate with respect to the areas below. These areas of cooperation may feature more specifically in the sectoral areas of cooperation outlined in Sections 2 and 3 below.

1. Economic development and investment

This area of cooperation promotes business interactions between the Participants, including mutual exchange of appropriate business delegations and market information as well as other cooperative activities in recognition of the importance of two-way investment. This should enhance the mutual trading relationship in key areas such as advanced manufacturing, aerospace and aviation, and green economy and energy transition. The Participants will work to address changing technology and disruptive innovations, with cutting-edge provisions that maximise opportunities for Indiana and the United Kingdom, and in all interactions aim to uphold values of inclusive trade and inclusive growth.

2. Workforce development

This area of cooperation supports the sharing of best practices and policy developments to deliver accessible workforce training and opportunities. The Participants will share best practices to ensure their respective workforces can meet the needs of high-demand, high-wage and high-quality jobs created by innovation across all sectors. Acknowledging the shift toward a low carbon economy, the Participants will seek to create a dialogue on how to best train and transition their respective workforces to adapt to new technologies and continue to sustain communities. They will exchange expertise on ‘just transitions’ for workers as the shift towards low carbon economies brings about changes to the types of job that exist and will work together to ensure that the policy is people-focused and considers the impact on jobs and communities.

The Participants will commit to widely accessible green skills education exchanges for people of all backgrounds. The Participants commit to identifying opportunities for strategic partnerships between private sector companies to strengthen capabilities to compete in international markets; this could include worker exchange programmes or embedding team members to exchange knowledge, skills, and best practices.

3. Innovation and regulatory cooperation

Within the framework of each Participant’s existing laws and regulations, this area of cooperation supports and enables innovation, where appropriate, by sharing expertise and best practices that recognise the importance of resilient and forward-looking regulatory frameworks, allowing for experimentation and adoption of innovative and disruptive technologies (e.g., automated vehicles, artificial intelligence and blockchain). This will further signal mutual ambition to support innovation-sensitive sectors, build like-mindedness on the importance of trade resilience to innovation, whilst being mindful of any consumer protection, confidentiality, safety and privacy concerns that may arise.

Where appropriate, cooperation in this area intends to reduce existing and anticipated barriers to trade for innovative companies, help them grow their expertise in transformative areas and facilitates business in the other Participant’s market.

4. Academic cooperation

This area of cooperation focuses on facilitating the creation of new exchange programs or the enhancement of existing programs to support and encourage appropriate institutional collaboration between colleges and universities, as well as research institutions in Indiana and the United Kingdom. Any such collaboration should conform to proportionate standards of research security and integrity.

SECTION 3: PRIORITY SECTORS FOR COOPERATION

In line with the principle of mutual benefit, the Participants intend to prioritise cooperation in the sectors listed below.

1. Advanced manufacturing and materials

This area of cooperation promotes collaborative projects, research, and information exchange regarding innovation in advanced manufacturing, particularly in support of sustainability. It aims to spur manufacturing growth by supporting regional and national initiatives to facilitate movement of goods and people, and to work to share best practices and world-class expertise found in both jurisdictions. This cooperation supports the Participants’ sustainability priorities and industry movement towards sustainable manufacturing.

2. Aerospace and aviation

This area of cooperation targets the development, operation, and manufacturing of aircraft between the aerospace industries of the Participants, with the aim of enhancing aerospace manufacturing attractiveness, workforce development, foreign direct investment and market access.

3. Life sciences

This area of cooperation works to advance company partnerships, opportunities, economic development missions, symposia, workshops, and other relevant cooperative events; market access, early-stage company investment, finance, and support; clinical research; and research partnerships.

4. Agriculture and agbioscience

This area of cooperation seeks to facilitate collaboration and information sharing in the field of sustainable agriculture and agricultural technology and innovation to improve farm management and productivity including agricultural biotechnology, including cross-disciplinary discussions relevant to food, agriculture, science, and technology businesses, by supporting, as appropriate, a productive long-term relationship utilising relevant public and private entities to exchange best practices and designate areas of growth within the sector. Agbioscience is the convergence of agriculture, biology, and science and/technology and is where food, agriculture, science and technology come together to drive innovation.

5. Automotive, including electric, connected and automated mobility

This area of cooperation fosters information sharing in the development and support of the automotive industry, including automotive innovation, engineering and manufacturing, and battery research and workforce development, especially as they relate to the commercialisation, production, and deployment of electric, connected, and automated mobility.

6. Low-emissions technology and solutions

This area of cooperation targets the development of initiatives to advance clean and reliable low emissions solutions and promotes the exchange of information, and collaboration on efforts to address climate change and drive down the cost of the technologies needed to lower emissions. It aims to accelerate research, development and innovation in technologies that support clean, low-cost and reliable energy and increase collaboration with research institutions, industry or others, as appropriate.

7. Energy, and infrastructure

This area of cooperation centres on developing private and public sector opportunities for collaboration in the energy and energy-infrastructure sectors, with an emphasis on clean power generation and innovative energy storage solutions and technologies. These efforts are intended to support the green economy and related supply chains to ensure a just transition for workers and communities, and to spur growth and innovation in a priority area for both Participants.

SECTION 4: GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT

1. The United Kingdom reaffirms its existing obligations under the World Trade Organisation Revised Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO GPA).

2. Indiana will actively work towards offering the United Kingdom’s suppliers treatment no less favourable than that afforded to suppliers from a state not bordering Indiana, including state level preferences.

3. Indiana and the United Kingdom decide to maintain an open dialogue regarding current and future trade related initiatives and developments.

4. The Participants will prioritise and advance opportunities in their government procurement processes within the Working Group framework (outlined below in Section 6).

SECTION 5: FORMS OF COOPERATION

Under the framework of this MOU, forms of cooperation may include:

• organising regular economic development missions and public sector visits
• carrying out specific projects, including technology and infrastructure demonstration projects
• sharing appropriate information and best practices regarding policies and programs, as well as policy design and capacity building support
• promoting cooperative research, development, and deployment projects in fields such as energy and other technology between research institutes and universities
• promoting proportionate measures to ensure that the integrity and security of research is maintained
• jointly organising symposia, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, and training
• participating in other commitments and/or initiatives, including multilateral consortiums and high-level summits
• facilitating discussions regarding cooperation and where appropriate sharing of regulatory best practices, including on innovation and regulation
• promoting participation and support from municipalities, regions, research institutes, universities, and non-governmental organisations, as well as other organisations
• any other mutually acceptable forms of cooperation that contribute to the goals of this MOU.

SECTION 6: IMPLEMENTATION AND WORKING GROUP

The Participants will, on a regular basis, inform and consult with one another on matters of common interest that represent opportunities for mutual benefit and are consistent with this MOU.

Towards that end, within six months from the signature of this MOU, the Participants jointly decide to form a working group (“Working Group”). The Working Group will be made up of members chosen by each Participant from relevant Government bodies and agencies. Where appropriate, the Working Group may invite participation of stakeholders outside government, including the private sector, to discuss matters pertinent to this MOU.

The Working Group will meet annually, with the Chair to alternate between Indiana Secretary of Commerce and Her Majesty’s Consul General for Chicago.

The purpose of the Working Group is to facilitate the exchange of mutually beneficial information to increase foreign direct investment, develop and improve upon existing policies and strengthen cultural ties between Indiana and the United Kingdom. To this end, as part of this Working Group, the Participants may:

• identify market access barriers and taking mutual steps to address barriers to trade.
• consider matters relating to the interaction between innovation and trade, such as regulatory approaches that facilitate innovation and cooperation to identify and respond to potential and future disruptions to trade caused by innovation in goods and services.
• exchange and analyse information pertinent to trade between the Participants, including economic data.
• where appropriate, invite participation of stakeholders in the private sector and academic community to discuss matters pertinent to the MOU.
• review the operation of the MOU.
• carry out any other mutually acceptable forms of cooperation that contribute to the goals of this MOU.

The Parties designate the following coordinating authorities to oversee all interactions related to this MOU and its implementation:

a. For Indiana: the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) as the coordinating authority for all state agency interactions related to this MOU

b. For the United Kingdom: the Department of International Trade and the British Consulate General in Chicago.

The above designates will also be tasked with identifying participants for the Working Group.

SECTION 7: TRACKING THE MOU

1. The Participants decide to make use of available indicators to monitor and evaluate the implementation of this MOU.

2. The Participants decide that in addition to the greater economic cooperation between the Participants resulting from the MOU, indicators may also be influenced by several external factors, including (but not limited to) global economic performance, commodity prices, and currency valuations.

SECTION 8: INFORMATION SHARING AND CONFIDENTIALITY

The Participants recognise that to facilitate the objectives of this MOU, information may pass between them. The sharing of information under this MOU is subject to the following provisions:

a. The Participants may only use the information for purposes which further the objectives of this MOU.

b. The Participants may only disclose any part of the information to a third party if the Participant wishing to disclose the information seeks and obtains prior written consent from the other Participant, except in circumstances described below in subparagraph (c).

c. In circumstances where either Participant is legally obliged to disclose any information related to this MOU under applicable legislation, by court order (or for another reason) it will inform the other Participant before doing so.

SECTION 9: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Intellectual property rights arising from this MOU will be attributed and protected in accordance with the Participants’ respective national laws, unless otherwise decided upon by those participating in the activity.

SECTION 10: FINAL PROVISIONS

1. This MOU is not legally binding and does not create any legal, equitable, or financial rights, obligations, or liabilities for the Participants.

2. This MOU will come into operation on the date of signature and will continue in operation until terminated by either Participant. Either Participant may terminate this MOU by providing 45 days’ written notice of its withdrawal to the other Participant.

3. This MOU may be modified through discussion in the Working Group, and all amendments or modifications must be agreed in writing by the Participants.

4. This MOU does not affect the rights of and obligations of third parties or the rights of the Participants to conclude arrangements or agreements with respect to any matter described in this MOU.

5. The Participants are committed to acting in good faith. Any disagreements between the Participants about the interpretation or application of this MOU will only be settled by consultation and negotiation between the Participants and not referred to any third party, court, or tribunal.

The foregoing record represents the understandings reached between the United Kingdom and Indiana upon the matters referred to therein.

This MOU is signed on Friday 27 May 2022 at the Indiana Global Economic Summit in Indianapolis, Indiana, by:

Eric J. Holcomb
Governor
State of Indiana

Ranil Jayawardena
Minister for International Trade
For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Bradley B. Chambers
Secretary of Commerce
State of Indiana

Alan Gogbashian
Consul General for Chicago
For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland