Jaipur, January 4: The Hon’ble Cabinet Minister for Information Technology & Communication, Government of Rajasthan, Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore, inaugurated the Rajasthan DigiFest – TiE Global Summit 2026 on Sunday in Jaipur. The summit witnessed the participation of senior government officials, global technology leaders, investors, startup founders, academicians, and students from across India and abroad.
Addressing the inaugural session, the Minister said that technology has become a powerful medium for empowering the last person in society, enabling people in villages and remote areas to connect seamlessly with the global digital ecosystem. He emphasized that Rajasthan is rapidly emerging as an ideal destination for AI and technology investments, driven by progressive state policies, availability of skilled human resources, and a strong startup ecosystem.
Under the leadership of Bhajanlal Sharma, the Rajasthan Government is actively promoting the adoption of artificial intelligence across key sectors such as industry, employment generation, education, agriculture, and governance. Through initiatives like iStart, thousands of startups are being nurtured and supported across the state.
The Minister highlighted that TiE’s decision to host its Global Summit in Jaipur—the first non-metro city to do so—clearly reflects Rajasthan’s growing stature as an emerging AI and innovation hub. He noted that the three-day summit will provide a global platform where over 100 startups will pitch their ideas to international investors, while 35 universities will deliberate on future-ready innovations in AI and emerging technologies.
Earlier, welcoming the dignitaries, Dr. Ravi Kumar Surpur, Secretary, Department of Information Technology & Communication, Government of Rajasthan, said that the State is leveraging technology to strengthen investment facilitation, skill development, and service delivery. He emphasized that innovation must move beyond laboratories and reach society at large, for which the Government is creating a robust and supportive ecosystem for young entrepreneurs.
Setting the context of the summit, Mahavir Pratap Sharma, Convener, TiE Global Summit, said that Rajasthan DigiFest brings together policy, entrepreneurship, innovation, and global capital on a single platform. He noted that Jaipur is steadily evolving into a vibrant innovation hub and that the summit will significantly enhance global investor engagement with local startups.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Murali Bukkapatnam, Chair, TiE Global, said that TiE is committed to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship worldwide. He described artificial intelligence as the fastest-growing technology domain with immense potential and termed the Rajasthan DigiFest – TiE Global Summit as a historic milestone for empowering youth and startups from the region.
Sharing global industry insights, Shanker Trivedi, Senior Vice President, NVIDIA, said that artificial intelligence is unlocking new opportunities across all sectors. He described the summit as an excellent platform for entrepreneurs to engage in meaningful dialogue, innovation, and investment collaboration in the AI domain.
During the inaugural session, key announcements and launches were showcased through a video presentation, highlighting Rajasthan’s progress in AI, startups, and digital innovation. Multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were also exchanged between the Department of Information Technology & Communication and reputed institutions to strengthen collaboration in technology and innovation.
The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Himanshu Gupta, Commissioner & Special Secretary, Department of IT & Communication, Government of Rajasthan.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by senior officials, including Ajay Data, Founding President – TiE Rajasthan, along with entrepreneurs, investors, academicians, students, and members of the general public from across the globe.
