The Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit concluded today at the ASPIRE - IIT Bombay Research Park Foundation on the IIT Bombay campus, in the distinguished presence of the Hon’ble Minister of Education, Government of India Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, who graced the closing ceremony, marking the culmination of two days of intensive startup showcases, investor engagement and strategic discussions aimed at strengthening India’s deep-technology innovation ecosystem. The ceremony was held in presence of senior deligates from the Government of India, including Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education; Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology; Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIT Bombay and Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay. 

The summit, organized as a national precursor to the “Bharat Innovates 2026” global showcase in France, brought together 137 promising deep-tech startups selected from more than 3,000 applications received from across the country.

The day featured additional startup pitching sessions across multiple parallel rooms, where founders presented cutting-edge innovations spanning areas such as advanced materials, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, clean technologies and next-generation manufacturing systems. The sessions were attended by investors, industry leaders and innovation ecosystem stakeholders evaluating opportunities for collaboration and investment.

The event also featured interactions between startups, venture capital firms and industry representatives, fostering meaningful partnerships and enabling startups to explore commercialization pathways and global market opportunities.

The summit concluded with a Grand Finale and Closing Ceremony, where IIT Bombay Director Prof. Shireesh Kedare reflected on the significance of collaborative innovation ecosystems in accelerating India’s deep-tech capabilities.

During the closing ceremony, the Hon’ble Minister of Education, Government of India Shri Dharmendra Pradhan also interacted with startups, investors and industry leaders during a walkthrough of the exhibition stalls and the IIT pavilion showcasing institutional innovations.

The Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit at IIT Bombay marks an important milestone in India’s innovation journey by bringing together academia, startups, investors and policymakers on a single platform. The selected startups will now move forward to represent India’s deep-tech ecosystem at the upcoming Bharat Innovates 2026 international showcase in France, further strengthening India’s position as a global hub for technology-driven innovation.