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Germany and India on Tuesday unveiled a comprehensive India–Germany AI Pact, marking a major step in deepening bilateral cooperation on artificial intelligence across key sectors ranging from manufacturing and healthcare to talent mobility and ethical technology governance.
The pact was signed in New Delhi on February 18, 2026, by Karsten Wildberger, Germany’s Federal Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation, and Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, on the margins of the AI Impact Summit.
AI Pact to Drive Implementation-Oriented Cooperation
Announcing the agreement, both governments said the AI Pact is designed as a flagship initiative to convert years of dialogue into concrete, implementation-driven collaboration involving government, industry, start-ups, research institutions and academia.
In a joint statement, Germany and India reaffirmed their commitment to shaping artificial intelligence “in a responsible, secure and trustworthy manner,” aligned with democratic values, transparency and societal benefit.
“Artificial intelligence must strengthen innovation and competitiveness while remaining human-centric, inclusive and development-oriented,” the two sides said, underlining that AI should contribute to sustainable economic growth without compromising public trust.
Boost to Industry, Manufacturing and Strategic Sectors
A key pillar of the pact focuses on AI for industry and manufacturing, recognising its transformative potential for productivity and competitiveness. The two countries agreed to collaborate on industrial AI use cases spanning infrastructure, mobility, energy, healthcare, agriculture and smart manufacturing.
To accelerate adoption, Germany and India will encourage partnerships among start-ups, technology firms, SMEs and industry associations, and establish dedicated contact points to support cross-border cooperation between tech organisations and industry bodies.
Emphasis on Trustworthy and Ethical AI
Another core area of cooperation centres on trustworthy and ethical AI. Both sides will deepen exchanges on responsible AI governance, including sharing experiences related to the European Union’s AI Act and India’s national AI and data protection frameworks.
The cooperation will focus on transparency, risk management and responsible deployment, while avoiding overly restrictive regulatory approaches that could stifle innovation and economic growth, the statement said.
Talent, Skills and Mobility for AI Ecosystems
Highlighting talent as a critical enabler of AI ecosystems, the pact places strong emphasis on skills, training and mobility. Germany and India agreed to strengthen cooperation in AI skill development through closer networking between industry, start-ups and research institutions.
As part of this effort, both sides will identify research institutes to facilitate joint training programmes and talent promotion. Dedicated contact points will also be established in both countries, in line with domestic laws, to facilitate the mobility of Indian students and skilled professionals under recent European initiatives.
Joint Research, Infrastructure and AI for Social Good
The pact also outlines plans for joint research and innovation, including cooperation on AI infrastructure, compute capacity and the development of sector-specific models such as language and vision systems. Collaboration between research institutions, start-ups and technology companies will aim to accelerate applied research and commercialisation.
In addition, Germany and India expressed interest in exchanging best practices on AI for social good, particularly in governance, public service delivery and citizen participation, with a focus on sustainability, inclusivity and accessibility.
Link to Digital Dialogue and EU–India Trade Momentum
Implementation of the AI Pact will take place under the established India–German Digital Dialogue, institutionalised in 2017 and further strengthened through the Work Plan 2026–2027, signed in Berlin on January 16, 2026.
Wildberger said the pact would “breathe life” into the recently concluded EU–India Free Trade Agreement, adding that it would create growth opportunities for German companies, diversify value chains and strengthen digital sovereignty.
Global Leaders and Tech CEOs Converge in New Delhi
The agreement was announced as New Delhi hosts the AI Impact Summit, running until February 20, 2026, with participation from world leaders and senior policymakers. Among those travelling to the Indian capital are French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Top technology executives, including Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, and Sundar Pichai, head of Alphabet, have also announced their participation.
Both governments said they would maintain regular exchanges to review progress under the AI Pact, expressing confidence that the initiative would deliver tangible outcomes and strengthen India–Germany cooperation in the digital era.
