The Research Symposium on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact, organised as part of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, has attracted more than 250 submissions from national and international researchers. It is designed to bring AI research closer to real world decision making and to serve as a bridge between research, policy and practice. Scheduled for 18 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, it will feature 30 selected posters under the Global South Poster Track, 15 from the India Forum Showcase and 15 under the Students Showcase.

The Symposium has been conceived as an interdisciplinary forum bringing together leading researchers and practitioners from India, the Global South and the wider international community to present frontier work and to exchange methods and evidence. Participants will engage on human capital, inclusion, safety and trust, resilience, innovation and the use of AI for economic growth and social good.

Programming will include plenary keynotes and research dialogues, international research panels and the Global South Research and Posters Showcase. Plenary sessions are expected to explore theoretical foundations, practical applications and societal implications, while international panels will deliver short, focused presentations by global research leaders. The format aims to promote exchange so that promising innovations can be assessed for real world deployment.

The Global South Research and Posters Showcase will provide a platform for students and collaborative teams to present work that addresses regional and global challenges and to access mentorship. The track aims to highlight emerging talent and regionally tailored solutions while encouraging networks that can accelerate development and adoption. Organisers anticipate that the showcase will strengthen capacity across participating institutions.

Organisers expect the Symposium to yield clear, implementable outcomes, stronger collaboration between research institutions and decision makers, and better use of research to support responsible AI adoption. Further information and registration details are available on the official Summit website at https://impact.indiaai.gov.in/.