India–Switzerland Lab Explores Governance of Emerging Technologies

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Ajay Sood highlighted the growing gap between rapid technological advancement and existing governance frameworks.

In a significant step toward strengthening international cooperation on emerging technologies, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland in India and the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA), hosted an “Anticipatory Leadership Lab” in New Delhi on March 6, 2026.

The initiative brought together leading experts, policymakers and innovators from India and Switzerland to discuss how governments and institutions can anticipate and govern scientific breakthroughs that are expected to shape the global future.

High-Level India–Switzerland Participation

The event was facilitated by prominent leaders from both countries, including:

• Prof. Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India

• Ambassador Alexandar Fasel, Switzerland’s State Secretary for Foreign Affairs

• Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of the PSA

• Maya Tissafi, Ambassador of Switzerland to India

• Prof. Marilyne Andersen, Director General of GESDA

The Lab convened around 60 leaders from academia, government institutions, diplomatic missions, deep-tech startups, industry and civil society, creating a multidisciplinary platform for structured dialogue on the governance of emerging technologies.

Focus on Frontier Technologies Shaping the Future

The discussions were built around GESDA’s Science Breakthrough Radar® and the anticipatory science diplomacy framework, which seeks to identify technological breakthroughs before they reshape economies and societies.

Participants examined major scientific advances expected to transform the world over the next 5, 10 and 25 years, with a focus on key frontier technologies including:

• Quantum Computing

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Synthetic Biology

• Neurotechnology

The deliberations explored how these technologies could impact global governance, economic systems, security frameworks and public policy.

Need for Anticipatory Governance

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Ajay Sood highlighted the growing gap between rapid technological advancement and existing governance frameworks.

He noted that traditional governance systems were designed for an era when technological change unfolded over decades, whereas today’s scientific breakthroughs are evolving at a much faster pace.

According to him, technologies such as quantum computing, artificial general intelligence, synthetic biology and neurotechnology are no longer distant possibilities, and decisions taken in the next decade will determine how effectively these innovations benefit humanity.

Science and Technology as Diplomatic Tools

Ambassador Alexandar Fasel emphasised that scientific and technological developments are increasingly becoming central to international diplomacy.

He observed that science and technology now influence economic prosperity, national sovereignty and global security, making it essential for governments to anticipate technological shifts.

Fasel said Switzerland has prioritised anticipatory science diplomacy as part of its foreign policy and sees its collaboration with India as a partnership between two innovation-driven nations capable of combining scientific excellence with large-scale technological implementation.

Global Cooperation for Responsible Innovation

Prof. Marilyne Andersen, Director General of GESDA, underscored the importance of global collaboration in managing disruptive technologies.

She explained that anticipatory science diplomacy allows policymakers to base decisions on rigorous scientific understanding while keeping discussions open to diverse stakeholders.

Such an approach helps prevent emerging technologies from widening global inequalities and ensures that governance frameworks evolve alongside scientific progress.

Forward-Looking Policy Dialogue

During the Lab, participants engaged in brainstorming discussions on how emerging technologies could shape India and the global landscape across short-, medium- and long-term horizons.

The dialogue focused on:

• Identifying opportunities and risks posed by frontier technologies

• Understanding implications for public policy and international diplomacy

• Exploring pathways for sustained global cooperation

• Strengthening early-stage governance frameworks

Participants highlighted that anticipating scientific breakthroughs early allows countries to create collaborative frameworks before geopolitical competition or crisis-driven responses dominate the global technology landscape.

Strengthening India’s Role in Global Tech Governance

The Anticipatory Leadership Lab reflects India’s growing engagement in shaping global conversations around responsible innovation, emerging technologies and science diplomacy.

Officials said such platforms help build collective capacity among governments, scientists and industry leaders to navigate the complex challenges posed by rapid technological transformation while ensuring that scientific progress benefits societies worldwide.