Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, June 3 : India and South Africa today agreed to scale up bilateral cooperation in future technologies, with Artificial Intelligence, Digital Infrastructure and Advanced Manufacturing emerging as key priorities for the next phase of bilateral engagement.
During talks with South Africa Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Nomalungelo Gina, who called on him accompanied by a high-level delegation, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh called for taking the relationship beyond traditional research cooperation towards innovation-driven partnerships capable of delivering economic and societal impact at scale.
Holding bilateral talks with Dr. Nomalungelo Gina, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of South Africa, Dr Jitendra Singh 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.
The Minister said 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.
The meeting was held at the Kartavya Bhawan in New Delhi. The Indian delegation included Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, DST, senior officials of the Department and representatives from the Ministry of External Affairs. The South African delegation was led by Deputy Minister Dr. Nomalungelo Gina and comprised senior officials from the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and the South African High Commission.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing innovation ecosystems, supported by major national initiatives in Artificial Intelligence, 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.
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.
The discussions also highlighted substantial opportunities in biotechnology, genomics, vaccine development, health technologies and pandemic preparedness. Dr. Jitendra Singh said recent global experiences have reinforced the importance of resilient healthcare systems and scientific partnerships, adding that India’s strengths in biotechnology, affordable healthcare innovation and vaccine manufacturing offer significant scope for collaboration with South Africa.
The two leaders also reviewed cooperation in astronomy, one of the flagship areas of India-South Africa scientific engagement. Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the significance of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, describing it as one of the most ambitious scientific endeavours of the century and a powerful example of how international collaboration can drive scientific discovery, advanced computing capabilities, technological innovation and human resource development.
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