Prime Minister Mark Carney announced from the G20 summit in Johannesburg that Canada, India and Australia will form the “Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation Partnership” (ACITI) to deepen cooperation in emerging technologies, diversified supply chains and the clean-energy transition.

The three democracies issued a joint statement declaring that the initiative would draw upon their distinct strengths and emphasise renewable power, critical-minerals supply lines and the uptake of artificial intelligence (AI) to advance citizens’ wellbeing.

The agreement follows Ottawa’s decision to reset relations with New Delhi after a period of diplomatic strain.

India and Canada acknowledged the need for renewed engagement in high-tech fields and strategic commerce.

Australian officials, meanwhile, welcomed the expansion of Indo-Pacific cooperation under the partnership’s umbrella.

Under the terms of the joint statement, officials from all three governments will convene in the first quarter of 2026 to “take the initiative forward” through ministerial- and senior-official-level meetings.

The statement anticipates joint efforts on resilient supply chains—especially in critical minerals tied to batteries and clean-energy technologies—as well as shared commitment to responsible AI deployment.

Canada described the partnership as part of its broader mission to diversify trade and strengthen technology collaboration amid a shifting global economy.

India welcomed the inclusion of its emerging-technology ecosystem and Australia highlighted the significance of working with like-minded democracies to raise standards in clean tech, AI governance and regional supply-chain security.

All three governments agreed that participating platforms would need to take “reasonable steps” to ensure that their cooperative commitments remain transparent and accountable.

While the new trilateral agreement is largely strategic at this stage, observers note its potential to accelerate research-and-development pipelines, mobilise investment in critical-minerals processing and provide a governance framework for AI in democracies with shared values.

The three countries affirmed their intention to mobilise industry, academia and government in the coming years to put substance behind the high-level launch.

The partnership also signals a diplomatic milestone for Canada, which has sought to rebuild trust with India after tensions that included allegations of New Delhi’s involvement in the killing of a Canadian citizen.

India and Canada have since moved to restart trade, technology and defence dialogues.

Against this backdrop, the trilateral accord may serve as a platform for broader cooperation beyond bilateral ties.

Officials emphasised that the partnership is not meant to exclude other countries but to provide a template for collaborative innovation among like-minded democracies.

The upcoming early-2026 meeting is expected to define working groups, key projects and timelines for implementation.

Governments will also outline measurable milestones in clean energy, AI integration and supply-chain diversification as part of the first stage of delivery.