Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi has underlined the transformative potential of India’s young innovators, saying that innovation, research, technology and entrepreneurship are playing an increasingly important role in the country’s development journey.
Joshi made the remarks in New Delhi while releasing the Bharat Innovates 2026 Commemorative Publication, which documents the first edition of Bharat Innovates held in Nice, France, from June 14 to 16, 2026. The international programme was organised under the aegis of the India-France Year of Innovation.
Pralhad Joshi Highlights Power of Young Innovators
The Education Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently emphasised innovation, research, technology and entrepreneurship as key pillars of India’s growth and development.
He said Bharat Innovates reflects this vision by creating opportunities for young innovators to present their ideas and technologies before a global audience. The initiative has also helped connect emerging innovators with industry leaders, investors and other stakeholders.
According to Joshi, such platforms demonstrate the confidence and aspirations of young India while showcasing the capabilities of the country’s higher education and research institutions.
He further emphasised that India can unlock significant potential when young researchers and entrepreneurs receive access to industry partnerships, global networks and opportunities to take their innovations beyond laboratories and academic campuses.
Higher Education Drives Viksit Bharat Vision
Union Minister of State for Education Dr. Sukanta Majumdar highlighted the contribution of higher education institutions to the broader objective of building a Viksit Bharat.
He noted that the National Education Policy 2020 gives considerable importance to research, innovation, creativity and scientific temper. According to him, initiatives such as Bharat Innovates provide a practical platform for turning these priorities into measurable outcomes.
Majumdar said that universities, research institutions, students, faculty members and startups are essential components of India’s innovation ecosystem. Strengthening their ability to collaborate with industry and international partners can help accelerate the development and adoption of new technologies.
Bharat Innovates Builds Global Platform for Deep-Tech
Bharat Innovates is an initiative of the Ministry of Education focused on identifying and nurturing high-potential deep-tech innovations emerging from India’s higher education and research ecosystem.
The programme seeks to create stronger links between innovators and industry, investors and other ecosystem participants. It is also intended to accelerate technology translation, support commercial opportunities and provide Indian innovators with exposure to global markets and supply chains.
A major objective is to establish a pathway that enables promising technologies to move from laboratories towards real-world applications. The initiative also seeks to connect India’s campuses with international innovation networks.
Also Read: Aadhaar Face Authentication Gets Major Boost At Global Fintech Fest 2026 With UIDAI SDK
Through these efforts, Bharat Innovates aims to strengthen the country’s deep-tech ecosystem and create greater opportunities for scientific discoveries and technological solutions to reach wider markets.
120 Deep-Tech Startups and 45 Research Projects Participated
The inaugural edition of Bharat Innovates brought together 120 deep-tech startups and innovators along with 45 research projects from across India.
Participants received an international platform in Nice to demonstrate their technologies and engage with industry representatives, investors and other potential partners. The programme also provided opportunities to explore international collaborations and assess potential markets.
The initiative highlighted the diversity of India’s emerging deep-tech landscape, covering the contributions of students, researchers, faculty members, startups and higher education institutions.
The commemorative publication captures this journey, beginning with the discovery and selection of promising innovations and continuing through their international presentation and engagement with global stakeholders.
Publication Records India’s Innovation Journey
The Bharat Innovates 2026 publication records the experiences, interactions and outcomes associated with the initiative. It highlights the scientific capabilities, entrepreneurial spirit and creative potential emerging from India’s education and research ecosystem.
The document also showcases the contribution of ecosystem partners who supported the initiative and helped create opportunities for innovators to engage with industry and international networks.
By documenting these efforts, the publication provides a snapshot of how India is attempting to strengthen the connection between education, research, entrepreneurship and global markets.
Senior Officials and Institutions Join Programme
Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, NITI Aayog Member Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Higher Education Deepti Gaur Mukerjee and senior officials of the Union Education Ministry attended the programme.
The event was conducted in a hybrid format, enabling senior academic and institutional representatives to participate virtually.
Directors of IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras and IIT Bombay, senior academicians and representatives of the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Department of Defence Production and IN-SPACe also joined the programme online.
The release of the Bharat Innovates 2026 Commemorative Publication marks an important effort to document India’s growing deep-tech ecosystem. The initiative seeks to give young innovators greater visibility, strengthen industry connections and create international opportunities, supporting the larger goal of building an innovation-led and globally competitive India.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel for real-time news updates and exclusive coverage.
