India strengthened its global technology and innovation partnerships as Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology and Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada led the Indian delegation at the G20 Innovation Ministers’ Meeting in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on September 1–2, 2026.
The high-level meeting, hosted by the US Department of Commerce and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), brought together ministers and senior representatives to discuss emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, innovation, skilled workforce development and resilient technology supply chains.
G20 Ministers Back Innovation for Prosperity
At the conclusion of the meeting, G20 ministers issued the Innovation Ministerial Statement, highlighting the potential of emerging technologies to generate prosperity, improve productivity and expand opportunities for people across countries.
The consensus statement outlined six major areas of cooperation: pro-innovation policy frameworks, technology for opportunity and prosperity, development of skilled technical talent, intellectual property policies related to artificial intelligence, the use of AI for standards and standards for AI, and industrial innovation and investment in supply chains.
The outcomes underline the G20’s focus on creating an environment where technological advancement can translate into economic growth and wider social benefits.
Carolina Principles Highlight Trusted Technology
The ministers also reached consensus on the Carolina Principles for Emerging Technologies, which call for greater investment in foundational research, stronger pathways for commercialising new technologies and wider adoption of trusted technological solutions.
The principles seek to strengthen the connection between research, innovation and real-world deployment. They also recognise the importance of ensuring that emerging technologies are developed and introduced in ways that build public confidence.
Other key outcomes included the AI Prosperity Objectives and the AI Prosperity Compact, aimed at supporting technical workforce development across G20 nations and creating additional opportunities for partnerships with the private sector.
India Strengthens Global Digital Partnerships
During his visit, Jitin Prasada held several bilateral meetings with senior international leaders, focusing on technology, artificial intelligence, digital ecosystems and innovation.
In discussions with Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, the two sides emphasised the importance of stronger cooperation in innovation and the development of trusted digital ecosystems capable of supporting technology-driven growth and shared prosperity.
Prasada also met Anne Le Hénanff, France’s Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs. Their discussions focused on expanding India-France cooperation in AI and digital technologies, with both sides highlighting the importance of technology-led innovation and partnerships for a trusted digital future.
India-Germany Technology Cooperation Gets Focus
Meetings with Germany’s Parliamentary State Secretaries Thomas Jarzombek and Dr. Silke Launert explored opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation in technology, innovation and research.
The discussions focused on developing future-ready partnerships and strengthening collaboration in areas that can contribute to scientific progress and technological development.
Prasada also met Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation at the African Union. The discussions highlighted India’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with African countries and creating new opportunities for shared growth.
A key area discussed was the potential expansion of India Stack digital solutions, including Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), to African nations.
US Talks Focus on AI, Semiconductors and Data Centres
During his meeting with Howard Lutnick, US Secretary of Commerce, Prasada discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation in strategically important sectors, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence and data centres.
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The Indian minister also encouraged greater US investment under India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 (ISM2.0). He proposed stronger AI technology partnerships and discussed the possibility of developing shared mechanisms for AI safeguards.
The engagement reflected the growing importance of India-US cooperation in advanced technologies and digital infrastructure.
India Explores AI Cooperation with Anthropic
Prasada also interacted with Tom Brown, Co-founder of Anthropic, to discuss the rapidly changing artificial intelligence landscape and opportunities created by advances in AI.
Among the areas discussed was the possibility of collaborating on the development of AI benchmarks suited to the Indian context. Such efforts could support the evaluation of AI systems against requirements and use cases relevant to India.
Duke University Visit Highlights Research Potential
Following the G20 meeting, Prasada visited Duke University, where he interacted with senior university leadership and faculty members.
The discussions covered technology, engineering, artificial intelligence, computer science, research and healthcare. He also toured the Robotics Laboratory at the Pratt School of Engineering.
During the visit, Prasada engaged with researchers working across robotics, biomedical simulation, AI-enabled sensing, biomedical data and machine learning.
The interactions highlighted the potential for stronger academic and research partnerships between India and the United States in emerging and transformative technologies.
India’s Global Technology Role Expands
The series of engagements highlighted India’s expanding role in shaping international discussions on innovation and emerging technologies.
The visit also reinforced India’s focus on converting advances in AI, semiconductors, digital public infrastructure, robotics and other emerging technologies into practical opportunities for economic growth, innovation and improved quality of life.
The G20 discussions and bilateral meetings further demonstrated India’s efforts to build strategic international partnerships while positioning technology and innovation as key drivers of future prosperity.
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