Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Union government, kicked off the two-day Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit at IIT Bombay, emphasizing the significance of deep-tech innovation for India’s technological advancement and global competitiveness. The event, organized by the Ministry of Education, marks the beginning of the Bharat Innovates 2026 journey, leading to India’s global innovation debut in Nice, France, in June 2026. Various dignitaries, including Vineet Joshi and academic leaders, highlighted the pivotal role of academic institutions, research ecosystems, and startups in driving cutting-edge technologies forward.
The summit, held at ASPIRE – IIT Bombay Research Park Foundation, showcased India’s most promising deep-technology ventures, with a focus on fostering innovation and collaboration across various government departments. Vineet Joshi, the Department of Higher Education Secretary, underlined the collaborative effort of multiple government bodies to demonstrate India’s prowess in deep-tech capabilities on a global stage. He also stressed the transformative impact of initiatives like Bharat Innovates 2026 on India’s education landscape and the broader society.
The event witnessed the presence of key figures such as Abhay Karandikar and K. Radhakrishnan, who emphasized the need for conviction and national purpose in driving innovation. Karandikar highlighted India’s remarkable growth in the startup ecosystem, with a significant rise in unicorns and investor interest. The summit, aimed at showcasing innovations across critical technology domains, received over 3,000 startup applications, culminating in the selection of 137 promising deep-tech startups from various thematic areas. The program encompasses diverse sectors like Healthcare, Space, Energy, Biotechnology, and Disaster Management, reflecting India’s commitment to technological advancement and innovation.
