Join WhatsApp Channel
The Gupta-Klinsky India Institute (GKII) at Johns Hopkins University, in partnership with Indiaspora, convened the Hopkins India Conference 2026 at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C.
The event brought together leaders from government, academia, industry, and civil society to examine the future of the India–U.S. relationship in a rapidly evolving global environment.
Amid increasing geopolitical and economic fragmentation, the conference positioned the India–U.S. partnership as a key axis of alignment across “trade, technology, energy, and security,” according to a statement from GKII.
Now in its second year, the conference focused on the theme “Ideas, Innovation, and Impact for a Shared Future,” with discussions spanning geopolitics, economic strategy, artificial intelligence, climate, public health, and philanthropy.
The event featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Ambassador Namgya C. Khampa; Ambassador (Retd.) Atul Keshap; Sunil Wadhwani, Managing Partner at SWAT Capital and President of Wadhwani AI; Lisa Curtis, Senior Fellow and Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security; Rick Rossow, Senior Adviser and Chair for India and Emerging Asia Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; and Anshu Gupta, Founder of Goonj, among others.
“This year, the conference convened a diverse audience to explore critical themes such as U.S.–India relations, the fast-evolving AI landscape, India’s DeepTech momentum, and reimagining systems in the climate era,” said Neetisha Besra, Director–India at GKII. “The book discussion with Megha Majumdar was a particular highlight for many participants.”
In a recorded message, Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary emphasized the importance of people-to-people ties, noting that more than 300,000 Indian students in the United States continue to strengthen the bilateral relationship. He said, “One of our strongest bridges is our people. With over 300,000 Indian students in the US, alongside a dynamic flow of researchers and professionals in both directions, we are seeing a powerful exchange of knowledge and skills. This movement of talent is not incidental.”
Ambassador Namgya Khampa, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India, described the Indian-origin community in the United States as a “force multiplier” and a “reservoir” of goodwill that strengthens bilateral ties.
“What was once careful, sometimes hesitant engagement has evolved into a partnership that is now central to how both countries envision the world around them—driven by intersecting interests: economic, strategic, security, and technological,” she said. “And this transformation is not sudden. It has been built steadily over years—across governments and through sustained effort on both sides.”
The conference featured a series of high-level panels addressing global and bilateral priorities. A session on India’s role in a fragmenting global economy, chaired by Shuchita Sonalika of the Confederation of Indian Industry, examined how the country is navigating shifting trade dynamics, technological competition, and strategic autonomy.
Another panel on building India’s deep-tech ecosystem, chaired by Dean Alex Triantis of the Carey Business School, brought together leaders from academia, industry, and venture capital to explore pathways for scaling innovation through stronger linkages between research institutions, startups, and capital. “Seema Chaturvedi, Founder & Managing Partner, Achieving Women Equity Funds particularly emphasized the need for investing more in women founders.”
A climate-focused session on reimagining systems for dignity and agency highlighted the importance of community-centered approaches to climate response, with an emphasis on resilience, equity, and the integration of health, environmental systems, and policy. Sweta Chakraborty, CEO – North America at We Don’t Have Time, underscored the role of strategic communication in shaping behavior and advancing climate action.
The conference also addressed evolving geopolitical challenges through a fireside conversation between Ambassador (Retd.) Atul Keshap of the U.S.–India Business Council and Dr. Vivek Lall of General Atomics, focusing on developments in West Asia and their implications for global energy systems, geopolitical alignments, and economic stability.
In his keynote, Sunil Wadhwani highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in advancing development outcomes. He said, “AI-based solutions are improving development outcomes in health, education and agriculture and for its impact to be equitably scaled, we need to be collaborating with governments.”
A panel on philanthropy explored the role of philanthropic capital in advancing research, community development, and frontier technology innovation. Discussions focused on engaging the next generation of the diaspora and identifying new approaches to mobilizing capital for long-term impact.
In addition to the public sessions, the second day featured invite-only roundtables on key areas including public health, women’s leadership in “research, higher education, mental health, climate disasters, and training AI workforce,” enabling more in-depth collaboration among stakeholders.
“The Conference brought together a diverse audience to explore critical themes shaping the India-U.S. corridor, from geopolitics and AI to climate and public health,” said Kunal Pal, Executive Director of GKII. “The roundtables in particular enabled solutions-focused dialogue with key partners and stakeholders on how to translate ideas into action.”
Related posts:
Global Experts to Convene at Johns Hopkins Inaugural India Conference on Innovation, Development, and Global Partnerships
Hopkins India Conference 2026 to Advance U.S.–India Collaboration with Expanded Two-Day Format in Washington, DC
India’s Response to Terrorism and Strategic Ties with U.S. Take Center Stage at Inaugural Hopkins India Conference
India-U.S. Strategic Ties Bolstered by Joint Stand Against Cross-Border Terrorism
