Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday said India is emerging as a leading global innovation hub and invited the international community to participate in Bharat Innovates 2026, a global innovation platform scheduled to be held in Nice, France, next month.
Addressing a high-level diplomatic conclave organised by the Ministry of Education at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi, Pradhan said India is transforming from being merely a technology market into a technology developer and trusted global partner. The event was held as part of preparatory engagements for Bharat Innovates 2026, which is scheduled from June 14 to 16 under the India-France Year of Innovation.
The interaction brought together ambassadors, diplomats and senior government officials to discuss opportunities for collaboration through India’s expanding innovation ecosystem. Pradhan said innovation has become a national priority over the last decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with strong emphasis on research, entrepreneurship and technology-driven solutions.
Highlighting initiatives such as the National Education Policy 2020 and the Atal Innovation Mission, the minister said India’s youth population, startups and higher education institutions are driving a culture of critical thinking, multidisciplinary learning and innovation.
Pradhan described Bharat Innovates 2026 as a global platform aimed at bringing together innovators, investors, universities, industries and governments. Stressing India’s approach of “innovation for inclusion”, he said the country seeks to develop scalable and affordable solutions not only for domestic needs but also for the Global South.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Bharat Innovates is among India’s key initiatives in technology, higher education and research collaboration. Referring to France as a strategic partner, he noted that 2026 had been designated as the India-France Year of Innovation during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India earlier this year.
Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi said the initiative would showcase India’s research parks, laboratories and innovation systems while promoting entrepreneurship and technology development through higher education institutions.
According to the ministry, Bharat Innovates 2026 will bring together over 100 startups across 13 STEM sectors along with Indian higher educational institutions, investors, academic institutions and policymakers from around the world. The platform aims to promote technology exchange, research partnerships and global market access for India’s deep-tech and research-driven startup ecosystem.
