Shri Dharmendra Pradhan invites world to Bharat Innovates 2026 deeptech push

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has invited the global community to participate in Bharat Innovates 2026, positioning the upcoming event as a platform to showcase India’s deep-tech capabilities and strengthen international collaboration in research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

The Ministry of Education organised a high-level diplomatic interaction on Bharat Innovates 2026 at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi on May 12, as part of preparatory engagements for the event. Bharat Innovates 2026 is scheduled to be held in Nice, France, from June 14 to 16, 2026, under the India-France Year of Innovation.

The interaction brought together ambassadors, high commissioners, diplomats, and senior government officials to discuss opportunities for global partnerships through India’s expanding innovation ecosystem.

India’s shift from technology market to technology developer

Addressing the gathering, Pradhan said India is increasingly looking at global disruptions and challenges as opportunities for new innovations. He said the country is moving from being primarily a technology market to becoming a technology developer and a trusted partner for the world.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, Pradhan said innovation has become a national priority over the past decade, supported by a stronger focus on research, development, and solutions for both domestic and global challenges.

He highlighted India’s youth population, startup ecosystem, higher education institutions, the National Education Policy 2020, and Atal Innovation Mission as key drivers of a growing innovation culture.

‘Innovation for inclusion’

Pradhan described Bharat Innovates 2026 as both a national innovation movement and a global collaboration platform. He said the initiative would bring together innovators, investors, institutions, industries, and governments.

The minister also underlined India’s approach of “innovation for inclusion”, saying Indian innovations are not only aimed at solving domestic problems but also at creating scalable, affordable, and inclusive solutions for the world, particularly the Global South.

Reiterating the Prime Minister’s view that “technology must serve humanity”, Pradhan said India does not seek to grow alone but through partnership, cooperation, and collaboration.

France as a key innovation partner

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Bharat Innovates is among India’s key initiatives in technology, innovation, higher education, research, and development. He noted that France remains an important partner for India, with 2026 declared as the India-France Year of Innovation.

Misri said the partnership is intended to benefit not only India and France but also the wider global community, reflecting India’s role as a trusted partner in global development.

Higher education at the centre of innovation

Dr Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Higher Education, said Bharat Innovates 2026 would serve as a global platform to showcase India’s innovation ecosystem. He said the initiative is closely linked to India’s higher education institutions, laboratories, research parks, and innovation systems.

According to Joshi, higher education in India is moving beyond academics and increasingly contributing to entrepreneurship, technology development, problem-solving, and economic growth.

Over 100 startups across 13 STEM areas

Bharat Innovates 2026 will bring together more than 100 startups across 13 thematic STEM areas. The event will be organised in collaboration with over 15 Indian Higher Educational Institutions, along with academic institutions, investors, industry leaders, policymakers, and government stakeholders from across the world.

The platform is expected to focus on strategic collaborations, technology exchange, research partnerships, market access, and global visibility for India’s emerging innovation ecosystem.

For India, the event marks another attempt to position its deep-tech and research-driven startup ecosystem on the global stage. For international partners, it offers a window into India’s growing role as a source of affordable, scalable, and inclusive innovation.