Event Overview
The IP to IPO Awards 2026 were officially launched in Delhi on 13 August 2026 at the Constitution Club of India, following a preceding launch in Mumbai. The Delhi edition brought together a cross‑section of policymakers, Members of Parliament, academics, researchers, investors, entrepreneurs, industry leaders and legal professionals to discuss how India can transition from a knowledge‑producing nation to one that systematically converts knowledge into enterprise and national wealth.
Key Speakers and Participants
Prominent speakers included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reiterated that “Innovation is the key driver of growth for New India,” and Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, who emphasized the startup ecosystem’s potential to lead the world through innovation. Additional government representatives were Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Minister of AI, Culture and IT Ashish Shelar. The event also featured Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan, Director of the National Stock Exchange, and Padma Vibhushan Prof. M. M. Sharma. Senior advisors and institutional heads present were Shri Shailesh Pathak (Senior Advisor, NSE), Shri Sandeep Marwah (Chancellor, AAFT University and President, ICMEI), Smt. Padmaja Ruparel (Co‑Founder, Indian Angel Network), Prof. P. B. Sharma (Vice Chancellor, Amity University), Capt. Amit Rai (Director, BuildINT AI), Dr. Vinod Kapse (Director, NIET), Dr. G. S. Toteja (Former ADG, ICMR), Shri Subash Chand (Deputy Director, MSME, Government of India), Shri Satish Kumar (Assistant Director, MSME, Government of India) and HG Vedanta Chaitanya Dāsa of ISKCON, Noida.
Launch of Researchio
During the ceremony, the initiative Researchio was unveiled. Founded by Dr. Surbhi Rathod, Researchio aims to bridge fragmented networks across the intellectual‑property and commercialization ecosystem by connecting researchers, university technology‑transfer offices, patent professionals, investors, entrepreneurs and corporations. The platform’s website (https://researchio.in) was announced as a practical tool to reduce the distance between invention and implementation.
Awards and Recognitions
The IP to IPO Awards 2026 recognized individuals and institutions for contributions to innovation, intellectual property, entrepreneurship, research, technology commercialization and institution building. The foreword to the accompanying book was written by Padma Vibhushan Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, former Director‑General of CSIR, underscoring the strategic importance of the IP‑to‑IPO framework.
Strategic Context and Vision
The event highlighted the broader ambition of moving India from a knowledge‑creation economy to a value‑creation economy. It stressed that while patent filing establishes rights, true economic impact arises when patents are validated, licensed, transferred, or built into scalable enterprises that generate revenue, employment and societal benefits. The narrative aligned with the long‑term vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047,” which calls for Indian companies to own technologies, patents, brands and business models that compete globally, turning India from a consumer of global innovation into a source of it. The speakers argued that measuring innovation solely by patent or startup counts is insufficient; the real metrics should capture licensing, technology transfer, product development, job creation, export generation and solutions to social or industrial challenges.
Closing Remarks
The press release concluded by noting the author’s extensive background as an adviser to MSMEs, startups and academic institutions, a three‑time TEDx speaker, author of multiple books, mentor to half a million individuals since 2010, and recipient of numerous awards including the Nation Builder Award and Maharashtra Ratna Puruskar. The release was distributed under an arrangement with Newsvoir, with PTI disavowing editorial responsibility.