India’s deeptech ascent goes global with MeitY’s Global Startup Bridge

India’s deeptech ecosystem is evolving rapidly, no longer defined by scale alone, but by the depth of innovation it brings to the table. Now among the top three startup ecosystems globally, India’s deeptech sector recorded a 78% surge in funding to $1.6 billion in 2024, with AI-led innovation at its core.

At Startup Mahakumbh 2025, the MeitY Startup Hub (MSH) served as the official deeptech partner, curating the DeepTech Arena as a high-impact zone of cutting-edge technologies and transformative ideas. The three-day showcase brought together over 100 startups, unicorn founders, policy leaders, and global stakeholders to explore the frontiers of AI, cybersecurity, electronics design, and beyond.

One of the standout themes was the push toward product-led innovation. MSH CEO Panneerselvam Madanagopal urged founders to resist short-term service-based models and stay committed to long-term R&D-driven outcomes. The launch of Samarth Portal 2.0, featuring India’s first voice AI chatbot on a government platform, reinforced MeitY’s vision to make emerging tech more accessible and scalable.

From the Corporate Innovation Challenge Awards to thematic panels on gender diversity, cybersecurity, and India’s growth journey, the DeepTech Arena made it clear: India is not just innovating for local impact; it is building for global relevance.

Taking Indian innovation global

To take this momentum beyond borders, MeitY Startup Hub launched the Global Startup Bridge, a strategic push to position Indian deeptech on the world stage and unlock global opportunities for homegrown innovators. Its core vision is to build global pathways for Indian deeptech startups, enabling them to access international markets, foster cross-border partnerships, and showcase India's innovation leadership on a global stage.

Through focused international chapters, the initiative aims to connect Indian startups with global R&D ecosystems, investors, policymakers, and corporate collaborators.

Spotlight on Brussels: Deeptech diplomacy in action

The inaugural chapter of the Global Startup Bridge took place in Brussels, Belgium. The visit was a deep dive into one of Europe’s most advanced innovation corridors, designed to give Indian deeptech startups direct access to market insights, funding avenues, and research collaborations.

A key milestone of the program was the signing of an MoU between MeitY Startup Hub and hub.brussels, formalised at the Indian Embassy in Belgium in the presence of Ambassador Saurabh Kumar. The agreement paves the way for startup exchange programs, innovation cooperation, and expanded market access for Indian ventures in the EU.

Also significant was the commercial MoU between Indian startup IG Drones and Belgian firm VoxelSensors, which develops cutting-edge 3D perception technology. Enabled through the program’s ecosystem matchmaking, the partnership demonstrates how international immersion can translate into tangible business impact.

Over the course of five days, Indian startups engaged with top institutions like Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) Brubotics, IMEC, Leuven MindGate, and FARI AI Institute, covering domains from robotics and semiconductors to ethical AI and IoT. These visits offered not only exposure to advanced tech labs but also hands-on sessions with experts on how to scale innovation within European frameworks.

A visit to Limburg’s innovation cluster featured academic panels moderated by Dr An Voets and opened dialogue around building city-led startup ecosystems. Interactions with finance invest.brussels and Innoviris gave Indian founders clarity on public grants, VC pathways, and regulatory readiness—critical stepping stones for global expansion.

The chapter concluded with a diplomatic reception at the Indian Embassy, where startups pitched to Belgian investors and ecosystem leaders. It underscored an emerging reality: Indian startups aren’t just participating in global innovation, they’re helping shape it.

Paris chapter: India shines at VivaTech 2025

The next stop on the Global Startup Bridge was Paris, France, where MeitY Startup Hub played a prominent role at VivaTech 2025—Europe’s biggest startup and tech event. Under the collective leadership of IndiaAI, STPI, Bhashini, NeGD, and MeitY Startup Hub, the Bharat Pavilion emerged as a vibrant showcase of India’s innovation capabilities in Digital Public Infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence, and Deep-Tech Solutions.

More than 15 high-potential Indian startups were featured at the pavilion, drawing attention from global investors, corporates, and policymakers. One of the standout ventures was Piersight Space, supported by MeitY Startup Hub, which made a strong mark in the SpaceTech category, spotlighting India’s growing expertise in frontier technologies.

A key highlight of the Paris chapter was the India Session on the Indo-French Year of Innovation 2026, hosted at the Business France Pavilion. Addressing a global audience, Madanagopal spoke on how Indian startups are not only expanding into Europe but also attracting European firms to India, thanks to the country's robust talent pool, ease of doing business, and thriving innovation ecosystem.

With this chapter, the Global Startup Bridge has added another key milestone to its journey, amplifying India’s presence in one of Europe’s most influential tech ecosystems and deepening Indo-French innovation ties.

The road ahead

As India’s innovation engine continues to accelerate, MeitY Startup Hub is setting a definitive agenda, one that blends domestic capabilities with global ambition. With more chapters on the horizon and deeper bilateral ties taking shape, the message is unmistakable: India’s deeptech journey isn’t just national story; it’s global potential in making.