Through collaborations with governments, multinational technology companies, global health organisations, and international research institutions, India is now leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to build new solutions and address healthcare challenges. As AI continues to reshape healthcare worldwide, India’s collaborative approach is positioning it as a key global hub for AI healthcare innovation.
Marking a significant step towards strengthening cooperation in AI-based healthcare between India and France, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, J P Nadda and Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic inaugurated the Indo French Centre for AI in Health (IF-CAIH) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, during Macron’s recent visit to India, along the lines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
The IF-CAIH is a pioneering initiative aimed at advancing AI-driven research, medical education and clinical innovation to address complex healthcare challenges. It has been established pursuant to a Joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between AIIMS New Delhi, Sorbonne University and Paris Brain Institute.
AIIMS New Delhi has also entered into a partnership with Germany’s TU Dresden to drive innovation in surgery through AI and deep-tech solutions, focusing on translational research, clinical application of digital technologies, and joint startup incubation to develop cost-effective, next-generation tools for surgical care.
India and Germany are also currently collaborating for the development of AI-based diagnostic systems designed to provide faster, more precise, and highly accurate care for animal health. Likewise, India and the Netherlands have collaborated in health-tech and AI, with both countries focusing on digital health, remote monitoring, and AI-powered solutions, particularly developed by companies in Karnataka.
Further, India has joined the HealthAI Global Regulatory Network (GRN), collaborating with international regulators including European partners to develop safe and responsible AI governance frameworks for healthcare.
Another recent development has been made when University of Toronto’s President Melanie Woodin met with Indian officials at an innovation-focused event in Mumbai, earlier in March 2026. University of Toronto and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru have agreed to develop a centre of excellence that uses AI to build predictive healthcare systems, to improve early diagnosis, enhance clinical decision-making and expand equitable access to medical services.
Looking at the US, Google has announced a new round of investments and partnerships to expand its AI footprint in India, adding to its previously announced $15 billion plan to establish an AI hub in Visakhapatnam. Under the new plan, Google DeepMind is collaborating with Anusandhan National Research Foundation to provide AI-for-science models; and generative AI tools are being integrated into over 10,000 schools through Atal Tinkering Labs under NITI Aayog’s innovation mission.
On the other hand, Apollo Hospitals has partnered with Microsoft to integrate AI and digital transformation into healthcare delivery, to focus on co-innovation, research, and the development of advanced healthcare solutions. Key areas of work include disease progression, genomics, and multi-modal models. In addition, Microsoft is investing $3 billion in cloud and AI infrastructure in India over the next two years, including the establishment of new data centres.
Australia is another key collaborator for India to leverage complementary strengths in AI. For instance, Andhra Pradesh government has launched the Bharat Biodesign Research and Innovation (BRAIN) programme, with the APAC Biodesign Alliance, and Stanford Biodesign (USA), along with the AIM Foundation of the University of Western Australia, to accelerate AI-powered affordable healthcare and medical technology innovation.
Simultaneously, in a significant step towards strengthening Australia–India cooperation in the field of AI, Deakin University, Australia, and the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (ITE&C), Government of Telangana have collaborated in multiple areas including healthcare, among others.
At the industry level, TeleMedC, an Australia-based leader in artificial intelligence (AI)-powered retinal disease diagnostics is expanding its footprint in India, through a strategic partnership with Mumbai-based startup AND Healthcare Solutions to deliver low-cost, AI driven eye screening solutions to millions.
“Global partnerships will be critical to scale innovations. However, important considerations remain. Many AI models are developed and validated in high-income settings and often lack high-quality, representative data relevant to India’s diverse population and health systems. Without deliberate efforts to build inclusive datasets, AI tools risk reinforcing existing inequities rather than reducing them. At the same time, the growing involvement of large technology companies in health data ecosystems raises important questions around ownership, control, downstream use of data, and equitable distribution of benefits derived from it. Establishing transparent data governance frameworks—covering data access, privacy, and benefit sharing—will therefore be critical. In an increasingly geopolitically contested technological landscape, international partnerships must also balance collaboration with the protection of national interests”, said Lakshmy Ramakrishnan, Associate Fellow, Observer Research Foundation.
Within Asia, one of the most notable collaborations has emerged through the India–Korea AI Quantum Healthcare Alliance, which focuses on developing next-generation medical technologies using AI and quantum computing. Moreover, Japanese firms are partnering with the Telangana government to build a large AI data centre cluster with an investment of about Rs 10,500 crore (around $1.25 billion). This facility is expected to become India’s largest AI computing cluster, enabling research and development across sectors including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and medical analytics.
India and Singapore are jointly supporting the creation of a Network of AI-for-Science Institutions, for connecting researchers, companies, and policymakers to accelerate scientific discovery using AI technologies.
Additionally, the Indonesia–India CEOs Forum held in New Delhi in 2026 emphasised strengthening alliances in sectors such as digital technology, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare innovation, which can support AI-based healthcare development.
Undoubtedly, as the global healthcare industry continues to embrace AI, cross-border partnerships will become increasingly important for translating research into real-world solutions. And with India expanding its AI capabilities and research ecosystem, its role as a key partner in global AI collaborations is likely to grow even stronger in the years ahead.
According to Neeti Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, TeamLease Digital, “The opportunity for AI to transform healthcare in India is huge. Gen AI alone could improve productivity in the sector by nearly 30-32 per cent by 2030, especially in areas like diagnostics, clinical workflows, and hospital operations. But actual progress will depend on fixing some basic challenges, as health data today is fragmented, digital infrastructure is uneven across regions, and there is a shortage of specialised AI and health-tech talent. Companies and governments will need to invest in digital health skills, build strong, secure data platforms, and implement clear guardrails for responsible AI use. If these foundations are built well, India has the potential not just to scale AI in healthcare at home, but also to create global models for affordable, technology-led and inclusive care.”
Vrushti Kothari
(vrushti.kothari@mmactiv.com)
