South Asian Artificial Intelligence Conclave 2026 by CDIPR

About CDIPR

The Centre for Development of Intellectual Property and Research (CDIPR) is a premier institution established as India’s First Non-Governmental Research Organisation dedicated to Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs).

Operating under the Naovina Development of Intellectual Property and Research Foundation as a registered Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), CDIPR is dedicated to promoting and protecting Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) within India, thereby fostering a conducive environment for innovation and creativity.

In today’s global landscape, where intellectual property serves as a cornerstone for economic growth, technological advancement and cultural development, CDIPR plays a pivotal role in driving forward-thinking policies, research and education.

About the Conclave

The South Asian Artificial Intelligence Conclave, 2026 (SAAI Conclave 2026) is a premier international academic and policy-focused conclave organised by the Centre for Development of Intellectual Property and Research (CDIPR), Naovina Development of Intellectual Property and Research Foundation, in collaboration with the Google for Education and the Data & Society Research Institute, and powered by the Community for Academic Research and Development Foundation.

Building on the resounding success of the India AI Summit, 2026, the SAAI Conclave 2026 is set to expand its global footprint by hosting participants, scholars, policymakers, and institutions from 88 nations across the world, making it one of the most globally representative AI-focused academic and policy conclaves emerging from the Global South.

The Conclave is conceived as a high-impact interdisciplinary forum dedicated to examining the rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its profound implications for society, governance, law, economy, innovation, and human values across South Asia and the Global South. As AI systems increasingly shape decision-making, public services, markets, and everyday life, the SAAI Conclave 2026 recognises the urgent need for informed dialogue that bridges technology with ethics, regulation, intellectual property, data governance, and inclusive development.

Bringing together AI researchers, data scientists, engineers, legal scholars, policymakers, educators, industry leaders, social scientists, and students, the Conclave aims to foster responsible AI ecosystems that are transparent, accountable, human-centric, and development-oriented. Special emphasis is placed on contextualising AI for South Asian realities addressing issues of inequality, access, cultural diversity, democratic governance, and sustainable growth.

Themes & Sub themes

Participants are invited to submit papers engaging with the following thematic tracks:

1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

• Machine learning, deep learning, and generative AI
• Natural language processing and computer vision
• Responsible, explainable, and trustworthy AI
• Human–AI interaction and collaborative intelligence
• AI safety and risk mitigation

2. AI, Law, Ethics, and Governance

• Regulation of AI and algorithmic decision-making
• Data protection, privacy, and surveillance concerns
• Bias, discrimination, and fairness in AI systems
• AI liability, accountability, and legal personhood debates
• Global and regional AI governance frameworks

3. AI for Social Good and Sustainable Development

• AI in healthcare, education, and public welfare
• AI-driven solutions for climate change and sustainability
• Smart agriculture and food security
• Inclusive and accessible AI technologies
• AI in disaster management and resilience

4. Data, Digital Infrastructure, and Platform Governance

• Data governance, ownership, and sharing models
• Platform economies and algorithmic power
• Digital public infrastructure and AI
• Cybersecurity and AI-enabled threats
• Cross-border data flows and digital sovereignty

5. Innovation, Intellectual Property, and AI Economy

• AI and intellectual property rights
• Patents, copyright, and ownership of AI-generated works
• Open-source AI and collaborative innovation
• AI startups, entrepreneurship, and scaling
• Technology transfer and commercialization

6. AI, Society, and the Future of Work

• Automation and labour markets
• Skills, education, and AI literacy
• AI and workplace surveillance
• Gender, diversity, and inclusion in AI ecosystems
• Socio-economic impacts of intelligent automation

7. AI, Democracy, and Digital Constitutionalism

• AI and electoral integrity
• Algorithmic influence on public opinion and speech
• AI, misinformation, and deepfakes
• Constitutional limits on automated governance
• Protecting democratic institutions in the age of AI

8. AI in Education, Research, and Knowledge Systems

• AI-enabled learning platforms and digital classrooms
• Academic integrity, AI tools, and assessment ethics
• AI in legal, scientific, and interdisciplinary research
• Open knowledge, digital libraries, and AI curation
• Capacity-building and AI literacy in the Global South

9. Defence, Security, and Strategic AI

• Autonomous weapons and international humanitarian law
• AI in national security and intelligence analysis
• Cyber warfare, AI-driven threats, and resilience
• Dual-use AI technologies and export controls
• Global norms and treaties on military AI

10. Indigenous Knowledge, Culture, and AI Futures

• AI and protection of traditional knowledge systems
• Cultural bias, language models, and regional identities
• AI for preservation of heritage, languages, and folklore
• Community-centric and participatory AI design
• Decolonising AI and Global South epistemologies

Format and Presentation

The conference will be conducted virtually to allow accessible participation across geographies. Selected authors will present their papers in live sessions before an international audience comprising scholars, professionals, industry leaders and policy experts.

Recognition & Awards

Selected contributors will receive:

• Publication in the International Edited Volume titled, “AI in South Asia: Shaping Intelligence for Inclusive Futures” with ISBN 978-81-998939-1-7. To be published and distributed across 15 nations, with DoI, international editorial and institutional collaboration.
• International Certificate of Presentation
• Global AI Scholar Award for outstanding research contributions demonstrating originality, impact, and policy relevance.
• Policy Innovation Award in AI Governance for papers offering actionable legal, regulatory, or governance frameworks.
• Emerging AI Researcher Award for students, doctoral scholars, and early-career academics.
• Top 15 Students & Researchers will be selected for the AI Policy Research Fellowship, with mentorship, certification, and opportunities for policy research, publications, and global collaboration.
• Awardees and selected contributors may receive invitations to contribute to future international conferences, edited volumes, expert panels, and policy consultations. 

Call for Papers Timeline

• Abstract Submission Deadline: 10th March, 2026 (Abstracts should be between 250–300 words, clearly indicating the research question, methodology and relevance to the Conference themes.)
• Notification of Abstract Selection: 12th March, 2026 (Selected authors will be notified via email and invited to submit full papers.)
• Full Paper Submission Deadline: 18th March, 2026 (Full-length papers should be 3,000–4,000 words and follow the Conference’s Submission Guidelines.)
• Presentation Confirmation by Authors: 18th March, 2026 (Selected participants must confirm attendance and complete registration.)
• Date of Conference: 20th March, 2026

Submission Guidelines

Categories:

• Research Article: 3,000 to 6,000 words
• Policy Paper / Legislative Analysis: 3,000 to 5,000 words
• Case Studies / Legal Commentaries: 2,000 to 4,000 words

Format and Structure:

• Font: Times New Roman
• Body Text: 12pt, Justified Alignment
• Headings: 14pt, Centre Alignment
• Subheadings: 13pt
• Footnotes: 10pt, Left Alignment
• Citation Style: Bluebook 21st Edition
• Spacing: 1.5
• Language: English only

Abstract: Each submission must include a concise abstract not exceeding 300 words summarising the core ideas of the paper with 5 keywords.

Originality:

• Submissions must be entirely original and unpublished.
• Plagiarism should not exceed 10%, and AI-generated content is not allowed. Submissions violating these guidelines will be rejected.

Co-Authorship: Papers may have up to two authors.

Review Process:

• A two-stage internal review will assess submissions.
• Authors may be required to revise their papers based on feedback regarding content, structure, or formatting.

How to Submit?

Interested candidates can submit abstract via the link given at the end of the post.

Contact

For direct communication, email us at events@cdipr.ac.in.

Click here to Submit.