India and South Africa have agreed to scale up bilateral cooperation in future technologies, with artificial intelligence (AI), digital infrastructure and advanced manufacturing emerging as key priorities for the next phase of bilateral engagement.
During talks with South Africa’s deputy minister of science, technology and innovation, who called on him accompanied by a high-level delegation, union minister of state (MoS) (independent charge) for science and technology, earth sciences, and minister of state for PMO, personnel, public grievances, pensions, atomic energy and space, India called for taking the relationship beyond traditional research cooperation towards innovation-driven partnerships capable of delivering economic and societal impact at scale.
The MoS for science and technology further said that the next phase of India-South Africa engagement must be shaped by emerging technologies, innovation ecosystems, startup partnerships and industry-linked research. He said the two countries possess complementary strengths that can be leveraged to create affordable, scalable and inclusive technological solutions for the developing world.
Furthermore, he mentioned that India and South Africa share a unique partnership forged through a common history, democratic values and a shared commitment to inclusive growth. He noted that as influential voices of the global south, both countries are increasingly contributing to shaping international conversations on science, technology and innovation through platforms such as BRICS, IBSA, G20 and IORA, while also advancing bilateral cooperation across multiple strategic sectors.
He highlighted that India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing innovation ecosystems, supported by major national initiatives in AI, quantum technologies, cyber-physical systems, digital public infrastructure and startup-led innovation. He said these advancements present new opportunities for collaborative research, technology development and innovation partnerships with South Africa.
Emphasising that science must increasingly translate into solutions that improve lives, generate employment and strengthen economies, the minister called for deeper engagement among research institutions, innovation agencies, startups and industry from both countries. He said future cooperation should focus not only on scientific excellence but also on technology deployment, commercialization and societal outcomes.
A key outcome of the discussions was the decision to intensify collaboration in advanced materials and manufacturing, geospatial technologies and digital Infrastructure, priority areas identified under the India-South Africa joint committee mechanism. Both sides agreed to accelerate interactions among scientists, institutions and technical experts to transform these focus areas into concrete collaborative programmes and outcomes.
Recognising the growing importance of multilateral scientific engagement, the minister invited South Africa’s active participation in the BRICS science, technology and innovation ministerial meeting scheduled to be held in Chennai in August 2026. He said BRICS cooperation is creating new opportunities for collaborative research in areas such as high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, biotechnology, water resources, precision agriculture and materials science.
The South African side also invited India to participate in the Science Forum South Africa 2026, one of Africa’s premier platforms for global scientific dialogue, knowledge exchange and innovation partnerships. Both sides welcomed the opportunity to further strengthen scientific engagement through regular institutional interactions and high-level exchanges.
The meeting concluded with a shared resolve to build a stronger, future-ready innovation partnership driven by research excellence, technology development, startup collaboration and people-to-people scientific exchanges, with the objective of generating meaningful benefits for both nations and contributing to the broader development aspirations of the global south.
