Portugal stands out as a strategic partner during the AI Impact Summit in India

The Minister in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister and of State Reform Gonçalo Saraiva Matias travelled to India to represent the Portuguese Government at the AI Impact Summit on 19 and 20 February. Ths was a moment where Portugal staked its claim in the field of artificial intelligence.

At the plenary, Gonçalo Matias introduced the country as a pioneering State in digital public services, and one committed to integrating artificial intelligence in a transversal manner in public administration, economy, and society, boosting Portugal’s image as a space for digital and responsible innovation. 

The presentation of the National Digital Strategy, the National Artificial Intelligence Agenda, as well as the Digital Skills Pact consolidated the technical capabilities and strategic ambition in this domain.

On a bilateral level, the Minister met with Indian counterparts in the areas of technology and public administration, deepening the political dialogue on digital governance, interoperability, and applying AI in the State’s transformation. 

Acknowledgement of the Indian digital public infrastructure model and the identification of the complementarities between both countries paved the way to structuring technical cooperation in digital public services and exchanging good administrative practices.

The programme also included meetings with global tech firms operating in Portugal, which enabled showcasing the country as a gateway to the European market, combining qualified talent, integration in the EU regulatory framework, and institutional agility. 

Minister Gonçalo Matias sough to boost investor confidence in the creation of new applied research partnerships and expanding technological investment in Portugal. 

On a multilateral level, attending the ministerial meeting of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) enabled reaffirming the country’s commitment to the initiative’s founding principles, by staking its claim as a player focused on trust and inclusion-driven AI governance. 

Through the National AI Agenda, Portugal is placing this technology as a growth driver at the service of society, boosting competitiveness without foregoing the protection of fundamental rights, innovation, and social cohesion.

Globally, the visit consolidated the strategic relations with India in a sector that is critical to economic growth and the State’s transformation, reinforcing Portugal’s attractiveness for technological innovation and positioning the country as an active player in promoting ethical, inclusive artificial intelligence, centred around the public interest.