Global South Researchers Invited to Present at Symposium on AI and Its Impact Ahead of India-AI Impact Summit 2026
The initiative seeks to strengthen global collaboration and advance India’s vision of ‘AI for All, AI for Good, and AI for the World’
Poster proposal submissions open till October 31, 2025
New Delhi, October 8: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has invited researchers from the Global South to submit poster proposals for the ‘Research Symposium on AI and Its Impact’, to be held on February 18, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event will precede the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled for February 19–20, 2026, and aims to bring together leading voices in artificial intelligence (AI) research, policy, and practice.
The symposium will feature plenary sessions, an international research showcase, and a Global South research poster showcase, providing a platform for scholars and innovators to present cutting-edge work on AI’s social, economic, and ethical impact. The initiative seeks to strengthen global collaboration and advance India’s vision of ‘AI for All, AI for Good, and AI for the World’.
Building Bridges Between Research, Policy, and Practice
Announcing the call for submissions, Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary (MeitY), CEO of IndiaAI and DG, NIC, said the symposium will act as a crucial bridge between academic research and actionable policy.
“The Research Symposium will serve as a bridge between research, policy, and practice. By bringing together diverse perspectives, it will help shape actionable insights that align with India’s vision of AI for All, AI for Good, and AI for the World,” he said.
Platform for Emerging Global South Researchers
The Global South Showcase, part of the symposium, will highlight poster presentations from researchers and students across India, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Applicants whose papers have appeared at leading AI conferences in 2024 or 2025 are eligible to apply.
Key deadlines include:
- Submission of poster proposals: October 31, 2025
- Notification of acceptance: December 15, 2025
- Final poster submission: January 5, 2026
Detailed guidelines and the submission portal are available at impact.indiaai.gov.in/research-symposium.
India’s Leadership in Responsible AI
Prof. PJ Narayanan of IIIT Hyderabad welcomed the initiative, stating that India’s inclusive research ecosystem is ready to play a global leadership role in responsible AI.
“The Research Symposium gathers key global and Indian research leaders to share work and build future partnerships. India’s vibrant, inclusive research ecosystem is ready to assume a leading role in advancing the global dialogue on responsible AI,” he said.
The symposium will culminate as a flagship precursor to the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, aligning academic research with high-level policy discussions. Together, these events will help chart a roadmap for an AI future that is responsible, inclusive, and impactful, strengthening India’s position as a hub for global AI collaboration.
