The Union Ministry of Education released a commemorative publication documenting the Bharat Innovates 2026 initiative, which was held under the India-France Year of Innovation framework. Union Education Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi stated that the initiative reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of placing innovation, research, technology, and entrepreneurship at the center of India's development journey.
The Bharat Innovates program is designed to discover and nurture high-potential deep-tech innovations emerging from India's higher education and research ecosystem. The maiden edition, held in Nice, France from June 14-16, 2026, brought together 120 deep-tech startups and innovators along with 45 research projects from across India. The initiative provided participants with opportunities to showcase their technologies, engage with industry and investors, and explore international collaborations and market opportunities.
Union Minister of State for Education Dr. Sukanta Majumdar highlighted the role of higher education institutions in achieving the Viksit Bharat vision and noted that the National Education Policy 2020 prioritizes research, innovation, creativity, and scientific temper. The publication chronicles the journey from the discovery and selection of promising deep-tech innovators to their international showcasing in France.
The event was attended by Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, NITI Aayog Member Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of Higher Education Ms. Deepti Gaur Mukerjee, and directors of IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, and IIT Bombay, along with representatives from various government departments including Science and Technology, Biotechnology, Defence Production, and IN-SPACe.