Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has exuded confidence that India will not only meet its own technological needs, but also those of all emerging economies in the Global South. The Minister was speaking at the closing ceremony of the two-day Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit 2026 at IIT Bombay today.

 

Mr Pradhan asserted that in the next decade, India will lead the deep-tech sector. He hailed the cutting-edge technologies displayed at the summit as part of the upcoming global launch of Bharat Innovates 2026 on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France in June this year under the India-France Year of Innovation.

 

Mr Pradhan opined that the responsibility of fulfilling the dream of Viksit Bharat by 2047 falls on the shoulders of academia, industry, the finance sector and the youth of the nation. He stated that India has proved its capabilities in the technology sector and that the whole world wants to work with India today, while highlighting that the country still has a long way to go.

 

He called upon IITs to break the glass ceiling and work in collaboration with industry, MNCs and other institutions, understand problems faced by the larger population and lead India’s journey in the field. He underscored various initiatives taken up by the central government to bolster innovation and stated that the government will work towards building a framework to convert innovation into products.

 

Addressing the gathering, former Chairperson of ISRO and Chairperson of the Board of Governors at IIT Bombay, Dr K. Radhakrishnan, expressed confidence that Bharat Innovates 2026 will be a game-changer in India’s tech future.

 

Speaking at the event, Director of IIT Bombay, Shireesh Kedare, informed that 137 start-ups participated in the two-day event, interacting with around 200 investors and 80 corporates. He highlighted the robust start-up ecosystem at IIT Bombay and the roadmap ahead.

 

He called for educational institutions, investors and the corporate world to work together to empower young and creative minds and their start-ups. He described the two-day summit as a crucial step in transforming India from a service provider to a manufacturer in deep tech.

 

The event was attended by Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology Dr Abhay Karandikar, professors, faculty members and students of IIT Bombay, along with representatives of participating start-ups, investors and industry stakeholders, among others.