New Canada-India Talent and Innovation Strategy gives universities essential role in economic partnership

[Mumbai, India] – Government and university leaders strengthened a key pillar of the new Canada-India relationship with today’s commitment to develop a Canada-India Talent and Innovation Strategy. Joining Universities Canada for the announcement were Prime Minister Mark Carney, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand and India’s Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Shri Jayant Chaudhary.

The initiative marks a significant step in implementing Minister Anand and Minister Jaishankar’s fall joint statement, Renewing Momentum Towards a Stronger Partnership, and reflects a shared commitment to strengthening long-term economic and innovation ties between Canada and India.

“Canada and India are natural partners in education, innovation and research, says Anita Anand, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Canada welcomes the new Canada-India Talent and Innovation Strategy that will create opportunities for students and researchers, drive economic growth, and reinforce the strong people-to-people ties that connect our two countries.”

“This is a new chapter in a very important relationship, and it demands a new partnership on higher education and research, which is vital to the future of both our countries,” said Gabriel Miller, President and CEO of Universities Canada. “We are building the foundations of a long-term partnership that will create good jobs, better incomes and communities that can thrive in a highly competitive global economy.”

Universities Canada will play a leadership role in developing the new strategy, working closely with counterparts in India to consult with partners from industry, universities and government. They aim to present recommendations to government within six months, in advance of the next G20 meeting. Realizing the full potential of this strategy will require sustained collaboration between governments and institutions, supported by targeted public investment to scale research partnerships, expand student mobility and strengthen institutional capacity in both countries.

The work is being undertaken with the support of the Government of Canada, reflecting the recognition that education and research partnerships are central to long-term competitiveness and trade diversification.

“Prime Minister Carney and Minister Anand have demonstrated strong leadership in advancing this renewed Canada–India partnership,” Miller said. “This initiative reflects a clear understanding that sustained institutional collaboration strengthens both economies.”

Canada’s higher education sector is a major economic driver and a cornerstone of national innovation capacity. International education contributes $30.9 billion to Canada’s GDP annually, supports more than 361,000 jobs and generates $7.4 billion in tax revenue. Canadian universities conduct approximately $19 billion in research and development each year, representing 35 per cent of all research activity in the country.

By strengthening collaboration in priority sectors such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, health innovation and advanced manufacturing, Canada and India are building durable institutional ties that support research commercialization, industry engagement and workforce development in both countries.

The initiative aligns with Canada’s broader Indo-Pacific engagement and builds on the recent Canadian university presidents’ mission to India, the largest academic delegation Canada has ever sent to the country, which laid the groundwork for deeper institutional collaboration. It also complements the Government of Canada’s International Talent Attraction Strategy by reinforcing Canada’s reputation as a trusted partner in global research collaboration and advanced skills development.

Today’s event also highlighted new institutional partnerships between Canadian universities and Indian counterparts, as well as the advancement of Canada–India Skills Training Centres of Excellence through collaboration between Colleges and Institutes Canada and India’s Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Together, these efforts signal a shift toward sustained, structured collaboration — strengthening trade, trust and talent connections between Canada and India for the long term.