Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, held bilateral talks with New Zealand’s Science Minister, Dr Shane Reti, in New Delhi. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ongoing India AI Impact Summit.
During the talks, Dr Jitendra Singh stated that the strong and forward-looking relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has created a conducive environment to elevate science and innovation cooperation. He emphasized that science diplomacy plays a strategic role in strengthening bilateral ties and generating shared economic and societal value.
Both Ministers agreed to adopt a focused and outcome-driven approach by identifying priority areas with clearly defined milestones. Biotechnology and the bioeconomy emerged as key areas of collaboration. Mr. Singh highlighted the Bio-E3 Mission and its growing network of bio-incubators supporting nearly ten thousand startups. The two sides explored cooperation in climate-resilient crops, livestock and dairy genomics, soil microbiome research, alternative proteins, nutraceuticals, and carbon capture technologies.
The Ministry of Science and Technology also discussed climate action and clean energy, including green hydrogen, electric mobility, ocean-based energy, and geothermal research. Frontier technologies such as quantum computing, quantum sensing, and cyber-physical systems were also prominent in the discussions. India's 25 Technology Innovation Hubs were also highlighted. The Ministers also deliberated on digital and robotic healthcare innovations, space science and polar research, particularly Antarctic studies and satellite observations.