The Chief Minister's Office of Andhra Pradesh announced on Friday, 29 May 2026 that a delegation from the World Economic Forum (WEF) met Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu to discuss the implementation roadmap for India's first thematic Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR), to be established in Andhra Pradesh.

Context

The post, shared by the official CMO account, states that the WEF delegation met CM Naidu to chalk out the action plan for operationalising the C4IR — described as the country's first state-level thematic centre of its kind. The centre is expected to conduct applied research across green energy, energy transition, and cyber resilience. The CMO noted that AP Transco had previously signed a formal agreement with the World Economic Forum for the establishment of the centre.

Policy Backdrop

The WEF launched its global C4IR network in 2017 to help governments adopt Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies — including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things — in a responsible and policy-driven manner. India joined this network in 2018 with a national centre focused on AI and emerging tech policy. Andhra Pradesh's thematic C4IR is positioned as a specialised, state-level addition to this network, with a sharper focus on the energy sector and digital infrastructure. CM Naidu directed officials to study various electricity generation models comprehensively and develop the best possible framework — 'వివిధ రకాల విద్యుత్ ఉత్పత్తి మోడళ్లను పూర్తి స్థాయిలో అధ్యయనం చేసి బెస్ట్ మోడల్ తయారు చేయాలి' (study all types of power generation models thoroughly and prepare the best model).

Stakeholders and Impact

The C4IR directly concerns renewable energy developers, technology companies, and state planning officials in Andhra Pradesh. By anchoring the centre within AP Transco's institutional framework, the state is signalling that energy-sector transformation — including green hydrogen and grid cyber security — will be a primary deliverable. CM Naidu articulated an ambition to position Andhra Pradesh as a world-class centre in green energy, digital transformation, and cyber security, aligning the state's goals with India's broader net-zero commitments. Indian states have increasingly used partnerships with international bodies like the WEF to attract investment and brand themselves as innovation hubs, and Andhra Pradesh has historically leveraged such agreements for IT and infrastructure growth.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the publication of the C4IR's first studies on power-generation models and the potential signing of additional memoranda of understanding with private-sector partners in cyber resilience and green energy. The operationalisation timeline and the governance structure of the centre — including WEF's ongoing advisory role — remain to be formally announced. If the centre becomes fully functional, it could serve as a template for similar state-level C4IR nodes elsewhere in India.