Mumbai, March 20: In a major initiative to strengthen India’s position in advanced technology innovation, the Ministry of Education is set to organise the Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit at the IIT Bombay Research Park on March 21 and 22.
The summit will showcase around 137 innovative startups selected from a pool of more than 3,000 applications received nationwide. These startups represent cutting-edge sectors such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, space technology, semiconductors, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing.
The event is designed to act as a launchpad for emerging ventures, offering them opportunities to connect with investors and scale their innovations globally. The inaugural session will see participation from key policymakers and scientific leaders, including Ajay Kumar Sood, along with senior officials from departments handling higher education, science and technology, and biotechnology.
Academicians, entrepreneurs, and startup founders from premier institutions will also take part, reflecting a collaborative approach between research institutions and industry.
The initiative traces its origins to an announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the India-France Year of Innovation. Bharat Innovates is envisioned as a global platform to connect India’s research-driven startups with international stakeholders, including investors, corporations, and academic institutions.
The programme is being executed in multiple phases, culminating in an international showcase scheduled to be held in France later this year.
A key objective of the summit is to bridge the gap between academic research and commercial deployment. Through structured pitch sessions, networking opportunities, and strategic partnerships, startups will be guided towards scaling their technologies from early development stages to real-world applications.
The event will also facilitate early-stage investments and strengthen the innovation pipeline emerging from India’s higher education ecosystem.
The gathering will feature over 200 startup founders, 70-plus investors, and dozens of industry representatives, highlighting a growing ecosystem built on collaboration between academia, government, and the private sector.
Officials say the initiative aligns with the goals of the National Education Policy 2020, which places innovation and research at the core of India’s development strategy.
With increasing emphasis on deep-tech capabilities, the summit is expected to play a crucial role in enhancing India’s global footprint in next-generation technologies while supporting the vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
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