The Ministry of Education, Government of India, today organised a high-level Diplomatic Interaction on Bharat Innovates 2026 at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi. The interaction was part of the preparatory engagements for Bharat Innovates 2026. The event is scheduled to be held in Nice, France, from 14-16 June 2026 under the India-France Year of Innovation.

The interaction brought together Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Diplomats and officials from the Government of India to deliberate on opportunities for global collaboration through India’s rapidly growing innovation ecosystem.

The event was addressed by the Union Minister of Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pradhan said that India today sees global disruptions and challenges as opportunities for new innovations  and is emerging as one of the leading countries shaping future growth. He stated that India is evolving from being a technology market to becoming a technology developer and a trusted partner for the world.

Referring to the vision of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, he said that innovation has been made a national priority over the last decade, with a strong focus on research, development, and finding solutions to both national and global challenges. Shri Pradhan highlighted that India’s vibrant youth population, startup ecosystem, higher education institutions, and initiatives such as the National Education Policy 2020 and Atal Innovation Mission are creating a culture of critical thinking, multidisciplinary learning, entrepreneurship and knowledge creation.

Shri Pradhan further said that Bharat Innovates 2026 represents a national innovation movement and a global platform for collaboration among innovators, investors, institutions, industries and governments. Emphasising India’s philosophy of “innovation for inclusion”, the Minister stated that India’s innovations are aimed not only at addressing domestic needs but also at offering scalable, cost-effective and inclusive solutions for the world, particularly the Global South.

Inviting the international community to participate in Bharat Innovates 2026 in France, he said that India does not want to grow alone but seeks growth through partnership, cooperation and collaboration. Reiterating Prime Minister Modi’s vision that “technology must serve humanity” and development must remain inclusive, Shri Pradhan called upon global partners to join India’s innovation journey for the collective benefit of humanity.

Mr. Vikram Misri, Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, mentioned that Bharat Innovates is one of the most important initiatives in technology, innovation, higher education, research, and development. He highlighted France as a key partner for India and noted that 2026 has been declared the India–France Year of Innovation, launched during President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India earlier this year. He also emphasized that this partnership is intended to benefit the broader global community, reflecting India’s role as a trusted friend and partner to the world.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Higher Education, highlighted the significance of Bharat Innovates 2026 as a global platform showcasing India’s innovation ecosystem. He noted that the initiative is closely connected to India’s higher education institutions, laboratories, research parks and innovation systems. He emphasized that higher education in India is evolving beyond academics to drive entrepreneurship, technology development, problem-solving, and economic growth.

A presentation on Bharat Innovates 2026 was made by Ms. Saumya Gupta, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education. The session enabled foreign missions to gain insights into the scale, thematic focus,and institutional participation planned for Bharat Innovates 2026 and the selection process of Bharat Innovate start-ups.

Today's interaction of the diplomatic community with the Union Minister of Education served as a platform to encourage global connectivity of investors, universities, research institutions, incubators and industry stakeholders with India’s deep-tech and research-driven startup ecosystem. The discussions also explored opportunities for research collaborations, startup partnerships, technology validation, market access and academic cooperation.

Bharat Innovates 2026 is a global platform for innovation partnerships, showcasing India’s deep-tech startups and research-driven innovation ecosystem to international investors, universities, industry leaders and policymakers. The event will bring together over 100 startups across 13 thematic STEM areas, in collaboration with 15+ Indian Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), alongside leading academic institutions, investors and government stakeholders from across the world. The platform aims to foster strategic collaborations, technology exchange, research partnerships and global market access for India’s emerging innovation ecosystem.

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