Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced the launch of a new trilateral initiative — the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership — following a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s representative Chrystia Freeland Carney on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. The leaders described the initiative as a significant step towards strengthening cooperation among three major democracies in emerging technologies, artificial intelligence and clean energy.
In a post on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said he had an “excellent meeting” with Albanese and Carney, during which the three sides finalised the new collaborative framework. Modi said the partnership would deepen strategic alignment across three continents and three oceans, while driving innovation that supports the world’s transition towards a more secure and sustainable future.
Focus on emerging technologies and AI
According to the statement issued by all three countries, the ACITI Partnership will prioritise collaboration in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, next-generation digital tools and advanced manufacturing. A key element of the initiative is the commitment to explore responsible AI development and accelerate mass adoption of AI solutions to improve governance, service delivery and the quality of life for citizens.
The partnership, Modi said, reflects a shared vision among like-minded democracies to harness technology for societal benefit. “We look forward to working together to guarantee a better future for the coming generations,” he added.
Officials noted that joint workstreams under ACITI would also examine intellectual property cooperation, cross-border research projects, and exchange programmes involving universities, start-ups and innovation agencies.
Strengthening resilient and diversified supply chains
A significant thrust of the ACITI Partnership will be on building resilient supply chains, particularly in critical minerals, semiconductors, green technologies and renewable energy infrastructure. The joint statement emphasised that the partnership aims to support diversification of global supply chains at a time when economic dependence on limited geographies has emerged as a strategic vulnerability.
The three countries, which collectively possess deep expertise in mining, digital innovation and research, said they would pool their natural and technological strengths to create secure and sustainable supply chains. The emphasis on critical minerals aligns with India’s ongoing efforts to reduce dependence on external sources for key inputs in electric vehicles, batteries, electronics and renewable energy components.
Australia’s strong mining ecosystem and Canada’s established reserves, combined with India’s growing manufacturing base, are expected to create a complementary framework for long-term supply security.
Clean energy and net-zero ambitions
Clean energy remains a central pillar of the ACITI Partnership. The joint statement said the initiative would help deepen cooperation towards achieving net-zero goals, with a focus on green hydrogen, renewable power generation, next-gen energy storage and climate-resilient infrastructure.
The partnership comes at a time when all three countries are accelerating their respective carbon-reduction commitments. India’s expanding solar and green hydrogen capacity, Australia’s renewable energy transition and Canada’s advanced research ecosystems are expected to form the backbone of collaborative clean-energy projects.
The leaders also underlined the importance of working together on sustainability challenges, including the adoption of greener technologies across transport, agriculture and industry.
Officials to meet in early 2026
The three countries agreed that senior officials would convene in the first quarter of 2026 to outline the detailed roadmap, identify priority sectors and design implementation mechanisms. This meeting will also determine timelines for joint research, pilot projects and technology exchange programmes.
The ACITI Partnership is being viewed by observers as a forward-looking initiative that positions the three countries as a collaborative bloc capable of shaping technology regulation, digital governance and supply-chain resilience on the global stage.
Leaders hope the partnership will also create opportunities for start-ups and industry, particularly in areas such as green energy, AI, biotechnology and critical minerals.
As the G20 Summit continues to foreground global cooperation and multilateral solutions, the ACITI Partnership emerges as a strategic move by India, Australia and Canada to harness the power of innovation in addressing 21st-century challenges.