Bengaluru, 14 Jan

A New Zealand innovation delegation met IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday to discuss collaboration under the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia (PMSA) programme.

The talks focused on strengthening people-to-people ties and establishing long-term institutional links between Karnataka and New Zealand. Kharge described PMSA as a New Zealand government-funded initiative promoting global partnerships in innovation, education, and leadership.

The delegation included representatives from research, technology, education, and innovation sectors. Highlighting Karnataka as India’s fourth-largest technology cluster, Kharge emphasised its strong talent base, with over 250 engineering colleges and numerous higher education and research institutions, making it ideal for academic and industry collaboration.

He proposed skill and market-access corridors to help startups, researchers, and companies scale solutions across markets. Kharge suggested cooperation in AI, aerospace, climate and sensor technologies, agritech, and marine biotechnology, and encouraged engagement through the Global Innovation Alliance. Both sides plan a working group and a potential MoU.