Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: In a major push towards positioning Goa as a global technology leader, the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, has launched the Goa AI Mission 2027 — a comprehensive and strategic initiative to transform the state into South Asia’s premier hub for Artificial Intelligence. The roadmap was unveiled during a high-level event held at Taj Vivanta in Panaji, in the presence of Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, ITE&C Minister Shri Rohan A. Khaunte, DITE&C Director Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar, and a host of industry leaders, academic experts, startup founders, and civil society representatives.
Speaking at the launch, Chief Minister Dr. Sawant emphasized that Goa is ready to go beyond its traditional image as a tourist hotspot and emerge as a hub of innovation and digital growth. “Goa is not just about beaches anymore; real progress is happening here in startups and artificial intelligence,” he said. Dr. Sawant announced that the state will set up a Goa AI Advisory Council to guide the mission’s implementation and will also work with academic institutions to integrate AI education at the school level. He added that the initiative aligns with the national IndiaAI vision but will be tailored to local relevance, ensuring access and opportunity for all Goans.
The mission is expected to play a transformative role in the state’s economic and digital landscape by 2027, with a direct impact on Goa’s GDP, job creation, and public services. ITE&C Minister Shri Rohan Khaunte reaffirmed the government’s vision of building a robust AI ecosystem grounded in ethical and responsible practices. “We’re laying the foundation — from policy, infrastructure, research, to skilling. Our goal is 100% employability for college graduates in Goa, with AI at the heart of that vision,” he said.
The Goa AI Mission 2027 is structured around four key pillars: skills development, fostering startups and companies, access to capital, and strengthening government and infrastructure support. Among its many features are the establishment of the Goa AI Advisory Council, a formal Goa AI Policy to guide ethical and inclusive AI adoption, and the introduction of AI curriculum in schools and colleges to prepare a skilled and future-ready workforce.
A flagship Goa AI Lab will be created to serve as a collaborative space for startups, researchers, and innovators, while a unique Konkani Large Language Model (LLM) will be developed to digitally preserve and promote the state’s linguistic and cultural heritage. The state also plans to launch a Goa.AI Innovation Fund to provide equity investments to promising AI startups and conduct AI Hackathons to identify talent and foster new solutions.
Additionally, the government is working to establish Centers of Excellence in AI at key educational institutions across Goa to support applied research and enable close collaboration between academia and industry. Minister Khaunte concluded by stating, “Goa.AI is not just about technology — it’s about empowering citizens, enhancing governance, and creating a digitally inclusive economy. This mission will make Goa a globally relevant AI hub.”
The Goa AI Mission 2027 marks the beginning of a long-term, collaborative movement that brings together government, academia, startups, and the people of Goa to ensure the state is not only prepared for the AI revolution but is actively leading it.
