The Government of Goa on Tuesday launched the Goa AI Mission 2027, a strategic initiative aimed at establishing the state as South Asia’s hub for artificial intelligence. The roadmap, developed by the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), outlines plans to build a responsible and innovation-driven AI ecosystem aligned with national and local development goals.
The launch event, held at Taj Vivanta in Panaji, was attended by Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, Information Technology Minister Rohan A. Khaunte, DITE&C Director Kabir Shirgaonkar, and stakeholders from industry, academia, and civil society.
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Sawant said the initiative would support the state’s efforts to integrate AI into education and economic development. “We want people to recognize that Goa is not just a tourist destination, but a place where real progress is taking place in startups and Artificial Intelligence,” he said.
The mission includes the formation of an AI Advisory Council to guide implementation, a proposed state-level AI policy to support ethical adoption, and integration of AI learning into the school curriculum. A Goa AI Lab will also be established to provide collaborative space for startups, alongside a new Goa.AI Innovation Fund aimed at supporting early-stage ventures.
The government also announced the development of a Konkani Large Language Model (LLM) to help digitally preserve and promote the state’s linguistic heritage. An AI Startup Hackathon is also planned to identify emerging talent and foster innovation.
“Goa is ready to lead in ethical and responsible AI adoption,” said Minister Khaunte. “We are aligning academia with industry to work toward 100% employment for Goa’s college graduates, with AI at the center of that vision.”
Plans are underway to establish Centers of Excellence in AI across educational institutions to support applied research and industry collaboration. The mission’s four key focus areas include skills, startups and companies, capital, and government infrastructure.
According to the DITE&C, the Goa AI Mission 2027 is expected to contribute significantly to the state’s GDP and support long-term digital and economic growth.
