India’s growing influence in global digital governance and artificial intelligence was a key focus at the Carnegie Global Technology Summit, where several international leaders emphasized the country’s crucial role in shaping a safe, inclusive, and innovation-driven cyberspace.
In a conversation on the sidelines of the summit, Maria Adebahr, Director for Cyber, Foreign and Security Policy at Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, commended India’s strategic importance in the evolving digital landscape. “This conference is a great opportunity to strengthen ties with India, a crucial country to collaborate with, especially given the current geopolitical situation,” she stated, emphasizing the need for global democracies to work together to create a cyberspace that is secure, transparent, and accessible to all. Adebahr also highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence being both inclusive and secure by design, citing India as a positive example due to its large population and extensive digital services.
Earlier in the summit, Jon Simonsson, Senior Director at the Swedish Prime Minister’s Office, praised India’s innovation ecosystem and its potential to lead in high-tech development. He noted the country’s strong knowledge base and favorable conditions for innovation, while emphasizing the need for greater institutional support for students and entrepreneurs.
“To encourage innovation, it is essential to make it easier for students and entrepreneurs to access resources and opportunities,” he said, also stressing the importance of financing in nurturing the sector. “While some capital is undoubtedly needed, the presence of over 100 unicorns in India demonstrates that startups can invest in these areas and achieve success, as seen with DeepSeek.”
Simonsson’s views were echoed in broader discussions regarding regulatory reforms at the summit. Lt. Gen. (Retd) Raj Shukla, a Member of the Union Public Service Commission, highlighted that India’s breakthrough in ventures like DeepSeek is a result of talent-driven algorithmic innovation. He advocated for deregulation to unlock India’s full potential, stating, “Innovation and regulation do not go hand in hand. Therefore, we must deregulate significantly to allow talent to flourish.”
Throughout the summit, delegates emphasized that India’s leadership in deep learning and AI depends not only on talent and startups but also on creating an environment that values openness, experimentation, and long-term investment.
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