IBM and India Explore Tech Partnership
New Delhi, March 25: Arvind Krishna, the Global Head of IBM, met with Dr. Jitendra Singh, India’s Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, on Tuesday in New Delhi. The meeting focused on potential collaborations in the fields of Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and geospatial AI solutions.
The discussion comes as India has launched its National Quantum Mission, which aims to position the country as a leader in quantum technologies. Both sides acknowledged India’s transformation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has propelled the nation to the forefront of AI and next-generation technologies.
Dr. Singh reiterated the Indian government’s commitment to fostering an innovation ecosystem. He highlighted the government’s proactive approach in welcoming private sector participation and cited recent breakthroughs in the space sector as an example. He also pointed to the Union Budget announcement allowing non-government sectors to participate in nuclear energy development, demonstrating India’s dedication to deep-tech innovation.
“India is now more open than ever to partnerships with private sector players to scale up technological advancements at a global level,” Dr. Singh stated. He also emphasized the role of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) in building a robust research ecosystem and expressed confidence in the potential of Indian youth.
The Union Minister underscored the Indian government’s support for a deep-tech enabled India and emphasized indigenous solutions and self-reliance in critical technologies. He added that India is at par, if not ahead, of other nations in the field of emerging technologies.
Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, also participated in the discussions, ensuring full support from government institutions to foster technological collaborations.
Sandip Patel, Country General Manager and MD; Kishore Balaji, Executive Director – GRA; and Amith Singhee, Director, IBM Research India & CTO, represented IBM at the meeting, expressing a commitment to strengthen the company’s involvement with India’s technology ecosystem.
The meeting signifies a pivotal moment in India’s goal to become a global leader in quantum computing, AI, and deep-tech innovation. This would be achieved through collaboration between the government and the private sector.
