India and the European Union have reiterated their commitment to developing safe, secure, and sustainable Artificial Intelligence while promoting this vision globally. As part of this effort, the European AI Office and India AI Mission have agreed to deepen cooperation, fostering an ecosystem of innovation and facilitating the exchange of information. Additionally, they have pledged to enhance collaboration on large language models.
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to safe, secure, trustworthy, human-centric, sustainable, and responsible AI and to advancing this vision on the international stage. To ensure continued and impactful cooperation in AI, the European AI Office and India AI Mission have agreed to strengthen ties, encourage an innovation-friendly environment, and exchange knowledge on common open research questions for developing trustworthy AI. They will also enhance cooperation on large language models and leverage AI's potential for human development and the common good through joint projects, such as developing tools and frameworks for ethical and responsible AI. These initiatives will build on the progress made under R&D collaborations in high-performance computing applications for natural hazards, climate change, and bioinformatics," according to a joint statement released by India and the EU.
The Second India-EU Trade and Technology Council meeting took place in New Delhi on Friday. It was co-chaired by India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw. On the EU side, the meeting was co-chaired by Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy Henna Virkkunen, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency Maros Sefcovic, and Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen established the India-EU TTC in April 2022 as a key bilateral platform to address challenges at the intersection of trade, trusted technology, and security. As two large democracies with open market economies, shared values, and pluralistic societies, India and the EU are natural partners in a multipolar world
As part of the TTC, Working Group 1 on Strategic Technologies, Digital Governance, and Digital Connectivity reaffirmed the importance of deepening digital cooperation based on shared values.
Both sides committed to leveraging their respective strengths to accelerate a human-centric digital transformation and the advancement of reliable digital technologies such as AI, semiconductors, high-performance computing, and 6G. These efforts will benefit both economies and societies. To achieve this, India and the EU will work together to strengthen research and innovation, enhance competitiveness, and improve economic security. Additionally, they aim to promote global connectivity within a cyber-secure digital ecosystem," the joint statement noted
Recognizing the critical role of Digital Public Infrastructure in fostering open and inclusive digital economies, India and the EU have agreed to collaborate on ensuring interoperability between their respective DPIs while upholding human rights, data privacy, and intellectual property protections. Both sides have also committed to jointly promoting DPI solutions to third countries and emphasized the importance of mutual recognition of e-signatures to facilitate cross-border digital transactions and boost economic growth
India and the EU also reiterated their commitment to strengthening semiconductor supply chains and enhancing collaboration in the semiconductor sector. They agreed to promote the development of robust semiconductor ecosystems in both regions.
To this end, they will explore joint R&D efforts in chip design, heterogeneous integration, sustainable semiconductor technologies, and advanced process development, including process design kits. Both sides will work to enhance technological capabilities, ensure supply chain resilience, and expand secure and diversified semiconductor production capacities. Furthermore, they committed to launching a dedicated program to facilitate talent exchanges and develop semiconductor skills among students and young professionals," the statement read.
The two sides also welcomed the signing of an MoU between the Bharat 6G Alliance and the EU 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association. This agreement aims to align research and development priorities and establish secure, trusted telecommunications networks with resilient supply chains.
Additionally, India and the EU will enhance cooperation in IT and telecom standardization, particularly by promoting interoperable global standards. They also agreed to work together on bridging the digital skills gap, exploring mutual recognition of certifications, and creating legal pathways for skilled professionals to facilitate talent exchange
Both sides have pledged to collaborate on implementing the Global Digital Compact, which was agreed upon by consensus at the UN General Assembly in September 2024. They also emphasized the need to ensure that the upcoming World Summit on the Information Society +20 strengthens global support for a multi-stakeholder model of internet governance.