India, South Africa Deepen Ties in AI and Future Technologies

Dr Jitendra Singh said the next phase of India-South Africa cooperation should be shaped by emerging technologies, startup partnerships, innovation ecosystems and industry-linked research.

India and South Africa have agreed to expand their bilateral partnership in emerging technologies, placing a strong focus on artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and advanced manufacturing as key areas for future collaboration.

The decision was reached during talks in New Delhi between Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and South Africa's Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Nomalungelo Gina, who led a high-level delegation to India.

Both countries expressed a shared commitment to moving beyond traditional research cooperation and building innovation-driven partnerships that can generate economic growth, create jobs and address societal challenges.

Focus Shifts Towards Innovation and Emerging Technologies

Dr Jitendra Singh said the next phase of India-South Africa cooperation should be shaped by emerging technologies, startup partnerships, innovation ecosystems and industry-linked research. He noted that both nations possess complementary strengths that can help develop affordable and scalable technological solutions for developing countries.

The Minister highlighted India's rapid progress in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, cyber-physical systems, digital public infrastructure and startup-led innovation. According to him, these advances create significant opportunities for collaborative research and technology development between the two countries.

He stressed that scientific cooperation should increasingly focus on translating research into practical solutions that improve lives, strengthen economies and generate employment opportunities.

Collaboration to Expand Across Strategic Sectors

A major outcome of the discussions was an agreement to intensify cooperation in advanced materials and manufacturing, geospatial technologies and digital infrastructure. These sectors have been identified as priority areas under the India-South Africa Joint Committee framework.

The two sides also explored opportunities in biotechnology, genomics, vaccine development, health technologies and pandemic preparedness. Dr Singh noted that recent global health challenges have demonstrated the importance of strong scientific partnerships and resilient healthcare systems.

South Africa expressed interest in strengthening cooperation in renewable energy, hydrogen technologies, health sciences, digital technologies and skills development. Dr Gina described India as a trusted partner and said there is considerable potential to expand research collaboration and innovation partnerships across multiple sectors. She pointed out that the two countries have already supported nearly 150 co-funded research projects across a wide range of scientific disciplines, creating a strong foundation for future growth.

Strong Foundation for Future Cooperation

The meeting also reviewed collaboration in astronomy, particularly the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, one of the world's largest scientific initiatives. Dr Singh described the project as a powerful example of how international cooperation can drive scientific discovery, technological innovation and human resource development.

Recognising the growing importance of multilateral cooperation, India invited South Africa to participate in the BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting scheduled for Chennai in August 2026. South Africa, in turn, invited India to participate in Science Forum South Africa 2026, one of Africa's leading platforms for scientific dialogue and innovation partnerships.

India and South Africa have maintained an active science and technology partnership since signing a bilateral agreement in 1995. Over the years, cooperation has expanded across fields including astronomy, biotechnology, renewable energy, indigenous knowledge systems, health sciences, advanced materials and earth sciences.

The latest discussions concluded with both countries reaffirming their commitment to building a future-ready innovation partnership focused on research excellence, technology development, startup collaboration and scientific exchanges that benefit both nations and contribute to the broader development goals of the Global South.