The recent India–Nordic Summit 2026 in Oslo has reshaped global technology governance, positioning India as a co-author of digital and AI norms rather than a passive follower, as per a report by India Narrative. Nordic leaders emphasized a green technology and innovation strategic partnership, foreseeing benefits from integrating supply chains, research collaborations, and digital infrastructure in India for commercial gains and geopolitical stability.
Both India and the Nordic countries consider each other strategic partners, with India serving as a significant hub for inclusive digital innovation and Norway standing out for its expertise in high-tech, green-tech, and governance. The AI Impact Summit held in New Delhi showcased India’s shift towards designing its own AI governance framework rather than merely adopting existing regulations, signaling an open invitation for collaboration from both the Global North and Global South.
The primary focus of the Oslo meeting was on fostering cooperation in inclusive, human-centric AI, reflecting a convergence between Nordic social-democratic tech values and India’s AI Impact Declaration. This declaration emphasizes aspects like human capital, inclusion, trusted AI, and democratizing AI resources, diverging sharply from the security-centric discussions in Washington and Brussels, the report highlighted.
India has significantly developed its digital public infrastructure (DPI) over the past decade, ranging from Aadhaar for identification to UPI for instant payments, which now underpin welfare services, financial inclusion, and daily transactions for over a billion people. Norway’s strong emphasis on data protection and civil liberties could influence India to align its Digital Personal Data Protection law and AI initiatives with more robust safeguards, the report suggested.
Nordic companies, facing challenges like cost pressures and supply chain vulnerabilities, find value in shifting production and research activities to India to reduce reliance on China. This move not only diversifies their operations but also grants access to India’s abundant STEM talent pool and evolving regulatory landscape concerning data and AI, the report pointed out.
