A. GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT MOUs / AGREEMENTS
Trade & Economic Cooperation
- Launch of CEPA Negotiations: India and Canada signed the Terms of Reference to guide negotiations toward an ambitious and mutually beneficial Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with a target of concluding negotiations by end-2026.
Civil Nuclear Energy
- Long-Term Uranium Supply Agreement: A $2.6 billion agreement between Saskatchewan’s Cameco and India’s Department of Atomic Energy to supply uranium to India, supporting India’s clean energy transition and energy security.
Critical Minerals Cooperation
- MoU on Critical Minerals Value Chains: India’s Ministry of Mines and Canada’s Department of Natural Resources signed an MoU to strengthen cooperation across exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing, investment promotion, and technical exchange in critical and strategic minerals.
Renewable Energy Cooperation
- MoU on Renewable Energy: India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Canada’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources signed an MoU to promote bilateral technical cooperation in solar, wind, biomass, waste-to-energy, small hydropower, energy storage, and capacity building.
Culture & Knowledge Partnership
- MoU on Cultural Cooperation: India’s Ministry of Culture and Canada’s Department of Canadian Heritage signed an MoU to deepen people-to-people ties, cultural exchanges, knowledge development, and creative economy partnerships.
Education & Research Mobility
- AICTE–Mitacs MoU: The All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and Mitacs Inc. signed an MoU enabling 300 eligible Indian students annually for three years, beginning in 2027, to undertake fully funded 12-week research internships through the Globalink Research Internship program. This initiative supports international research collaboration on projects hosted by Canadian academic institution faculty members across a variety of disciplines, from science, engineering, and mathematics to the humanities and social science.
- Indo-Pacific Scholarships: Over 85 Canadian graduate students and researchers from 11 Canadian post-secondary academic institutions will travel to India to learn from and collaborate with leading Indian academics through the Indo-Pacific Strategy’s $10 million Indo-Pacific Scholarships and Fellowships program.
- The University of Toronto India Foundation: In Mumbai, an Indian-based research and entrepreneurship centre, with support from Tata Trust, bridges University of Toronto and Indian researchers and change-makers to build more sustainable and climate-resilient cities of all sizes, providing a data-informed, interdisciplinary lens.
Agri-Food & Food Processing
- Declaration of Intent – India-Canada Pulse Protein Centre of Excellence: The Government of Canada and India’s Ministry of Food Processing Industries intend to announce the establishment of a joint Canada-India Pulse Protein Centre of Excellence, advancing cooperation in value-added agriculture and food innovation. Through a declaration of intent, governments will establish a joint task force to develop a fully executable plan to operationalise the Centre.
Civil space cooperation
- Both sides agreed to pursue an Implementing Arrangement (IA) on Space, under the existing Canadian Space Agency – Indian Space Research Organisation Memorandum of Understanding, encompassing atmospheric sciences, space exploration involving space robotics and human spaceflight, and quantum communication technologies, supported by enhanced capacity building and knowledge exchange between our agencies.
B. INSTITUTIONAL & STRATEGIC COOPERATION
- India, Canada, and Australia finalised the text of a Trilateral MoU under the Australia–Canada–India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership to advance cooperation in emerging technologies and innovation. The signing will take place at a later date.
- Reconstitution of the India–Canada CEO Forum as a key platform to deepen private-sector engagement and advance practical cooperation across priority sectors. The next meeting of the Forum will be convened on March 2, 2026.
- Letter of Intent on an India–Canada Defence Dialogue at the Joint Secretary / Assistant Deputy Minister-level to strengthen structured engagement on defence and security cooperation.
- Establishment of an India–Canada Parliament Friendship Group in their respective parliaments to promote legislative exchanges and deepen parliamentary ties.
- India expressed support for Canada’s interest in joining the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) as a Dialogue Partner, reflecting growing convergence in the Indian Ocean region.
- Canada announced that it would be starting the process to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA), strengthening cooperation on solar energy deployment and climate action.
- India welcomed Canada’s signing of the foundational documents to upgrade its participation in the Global Biofuels Alliance as a Full Member, reinforcing collaboration on the clean energy transition.
- Canada will be participating in Bharat Tribes Fest 2026, in New Delhi (March 17–30, 2026), supporting cultural exchange and indigenous economic empowerment.
- Universities Canada launched a new Canada-India Joint Talent and Innovation Strategy, which is aimed at strengthening academic cooperation, enhancing innovation ecosystems, and supporting long-term institutional alignment.
C. UNIVERSITY & INNOVATION PARTNERSHIPS
Artificial Intelligence & Advanced Technology
- Centre of Excellence in AI Education and Research: Jubilant Bhartia-McGill signed an MoU to establish India’s premier and leading Centre of Excellence in AI and Research, built around an industry-relevant Master’s program that will train 200 top graduates each year and prepare them for high-impact global careers in AI. McGill will leverage its research-driven AI ecosystem and academic rigour, while Jubilant Bhartia Foundation will lead industry engagement, stakeholder outreach, and infrastructure development in India. Together, the partners aim to create a long-term national hub for AI talent, innovation, and leadership.
- University of Toronto – Indian Institute of Science: A new AI-focused MoU to advance collaboration advancing research and education through joint initiatives and institutional cooperation in AI research and education. The partnership involves the Temerty Centre for AI Research and Education in Medicine and other University of Toronto AI researchers who will take part in joint initiatives under this agreement.
- University of Toronto – Jio Institute: A renewed MoU supports collaboration in AI and management, student exchanges, and visiting faculty programs.
- MoU between Saskatchewan Poly and Atira University: The agreement advances joint programming, faculty exchange and collaborative research in emerging technologies, strengthening industry-oriented education linkages between Saskatchewan and India.
Hydrogen & Clean Energy Research
- Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada – Hydrogen Association of India: This MoU facilitates collaboration with involving Indian Academic and Research institutes, to advance joint hydrogen research, innovation, and technology development, supporting clean-energy solutions and deeper Canada-India academic partnerships.
- MoU between Petroleum Technology Research Center and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay National Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture Utilization and Store Technology: This MoU fosters joint R&D, knowledge exchange and pilot projects in advanced CCUS technologies, connecting Saskatchewan’s field-scale expertise with IIT Bombay’s academic and innovation leadership.
Critical Minerals
- MoU between Saskatchewan Research Council and Midwest Limited: The agreement supports collaboration in critical minerals exploration, processing and value addition, aligning Saskatchewan’s technical capabilities with Midwest’s mineral development portfolio.
- MoU between Saskatchewan Research Council and Nonferrous Materials Technology Development Centre: This partnership enables joint research and technology exchange in nonferrous metals and critical minerals, strengthening downstream processing and innovation linkages between Saskatchewan and India.
Academic Mobility & Pathway Programs
- Algoma University, Ontario, Canada – Parul University, Vadodara: This MoU supports academic cooperation, research collaboration, student and faculty exchange, as well as short-term courses. The partnership also supports the creation of pathway agreements for eligible Parul School of Computer Science and Engineering students to transition into designated Algoma University programs.
- Algoma University, Ontario, Canada – Chandigarh University, Punjab: This MoU supports academic cooperation, research collaboration, student and faculty exchange, as well as short-term courses. The partnership also supports multiple pathway agreements that allow eligible students from Chandigarh University’s psychology, computer applications, and management departments to transition directly into designated Algoma University programs.
- Simon Fraser University – O.P. Jindal Global University: This MoU establishes a framework to explore faculty and student mobility, joint academic programming, and research collaboration between the universities, including potential transnational education and academic exchange opportunities.
- University of British Columbia – O.P. Jindal Global University: This MoU will facilitate student and faculty exchanges and research.
- University of the Fraser Valley – Panjab University: This MoU will enable faculty and student mobility and exchanges, joint academic programming, as well as expanded research exchanges. Student mobility will be focused on a cohort-based model for student mobility.
- University of Guelph – O.P. Jindal Global University: This MoU will facilitate student and faculty mobility for training and research.
- Brock University – O.P. Jindal Global University: This MoU will support faculty collaborations and short three-year exchanges to work on specific areas such as public health and sports management business.
- Royal Reeds University – O.P. Jindal Global University: This MoU will support faculty and student exchanges.
- MoU between Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Axia International: The partnership focuses on applied education, skills development and industry-aligned training programs, creating pathways for workforce readiness in priority sectors including energy and advanced manufacturing.
- MoU between Saskatchewan Poly and Cambridge International School: This MoU supports academic progression pathways and institutional collaboration, facilitating student mobility and exposure to applied learning opportunities in Canada.
- University of British Columbia signed a new partnership with ATLAS SkillTech University to strengthen transnational education, and more than $4 million in entrance scholarships for outstanding Indian undergraduate students.
Healthcare & Nursing
- Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada – SRM Institute of Science and Technology: This MoU establishes a Nursing Dual Degree Program, including 25 Indian Nursing Council-approved supernumerary seats, dual credentials, and embedded clinical experience in Canada. The agreement also supports academic cooperation, student mobility, and a potential pathway to nursing practice in Nova Scotia.
Agriculture & Climate Resilience
- Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada – Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): This MoU supports collaboration in digital agriculture, climate-resilient agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, and animal husbandry. It also focuses on joint research and broader academic cooperation across these priority areas.
- MoU between University of Saskatchewan and NIFTEM-Kundli: The MoU promotes academic collaboration, joint research and student mobility in agri-food innovation and food processing technologies, advancing shared priorities in food security and value-added agriculture. This MoU also has the support from India’s Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) to establish a plant protein Centre of Excellence at NIFTEM-Kundli.
- MoU between University of Saskatchewan and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics: This agreement enhances cooperation in crop science, climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable farming systems, linking Saskatchewan’s strengths in dryland agriculture with ICRISAT’s global research expertise.
Flagship Innovation Campus
- Tirupati Tri-Institutional Global Innovation Campus: A flagship initiative to jointly establish a Global Innovation Campus by Dalhousie University, IIT Tirupati, and IISER Tirupati, where graduate education, research, and innovation are deliberately designed to connect talent, industry, and markets, strengthening supply chains, accelerating innovation, and delivering shared prosperity.
- New University of British Columbia (UBC) South Asia Hub: The new UBC South Asia Hub will strengthen Canada-India relations by advancing long-term academic, research, innovation, and people-to-people partnerships – anchored in India, aligned with Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, and delivering on UBC’s Strategic Plan 2025-30.
D. COMMERCIAL AGREEMENTS & INVESTMENTS
Technology
- HCL Technologies, India’s third-largest IT services company, is accelerating its Canadian expansion with significant new investments. These include the opening of an AI Collaboration Center in Calgary, a Cybersecurity Center in Mississauga, and an expansion in Vancouver, alongside steady growth in other provinces such as New Brunswick and Québec. Currently, HCL Technologies employs approximately 3,000 professionals across five provinces and plans to increase its workforce by 75% by 2030.
- Metal7, a Canadian industrial technology company, has secured approximately $30 million in confirmed orders in India over the past months, with project deliveries and execution scheduled throughout 2026.
- Montréal-based Ovivo has secured an order from Neercare India Ltd to supply its Vortex grit removal systems, including digestors and mixers, for the Indore Municipal Corporation wastewater treatment plant in Madhya Pradesh.
Agri-food & Processing
- McCain Foods, a Canadian frozen‑food multinational operating in India since 1998, recently completed a $135 million expansion of its Gujarat facility. Building on that milestone, the company has been allotted land in Madhya Pradesh and is planning for a new facility as part of its next phase of growth. In India, McCain continues to strengthen agricultural value chains, support 2,500 Indian potato farmers, create local employment, and contribute to regional industrial development.
Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences
- Jubilant Pharmova Limited, a global pharmaceutical and life sciences company headquartered in India with more than CAD 850 million investment in Canada, has committed CAD 155 million to triple the production capacity of its existing sterile injectables facility in Kirkland, Québec. They are also working with the Canadian government on continued investment in their facility in Kirkland, Québec. Together, current presence and ongoing investment would bring their Canadian workforce to over 600.
- India’s OCT Therapies and Research Pvt Ltd. is expanding into Moncton, New Brunswick. The expansion will focus on manufacturing regenerative medicine products, including cell-derived and biologics-based therapies for tissue repair, wound healing, and mucosal regeneration. OCT Therapies is looking at an investment of around $10 million to launch their unique products.
Financial Services & FinTech
- Canada’s Asset Direct has partnered with India’s Yes Bank Limited to support the rollout of Banxx, Asset Direct’s customisable, AI-driven banking platform. Through this partnership, Banxx will enable users to access personalised financial services through a single, intelligent digital interface.
Hospitality & Retail
- PRISM, the Delhi-headquartered global travel and hospitality technology company, and G6 Hospitality, parent company of lodging brands Motel 6 and Studio 6, intends to invest significantly in Canada over the next two years alongside its partners, with the potential to support significant jobs across the country over time.
- Montréal-based EG Beauty Brands is planning a phased India market entry with an anticipated initial investment in the range of $1–2 million over the first 18–24 months. This would cover inventory build, regulatory approvals, marketing, team development, and working capital, subject to financing and rollout pacing.
Mining
- Elk Valley Resources of British Columbia has signed MoUs with A-One Steels India Limited, Jindal Saw Limited, Shyam Sel &Power Limited and Jayaswal Neco Industries Ltd. These MoUs discuss new sales of 1.2 million tonnes of metallurgical coal worth approximately CAD $285M.