The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will organise Him-CONNECT in New Delhi from February 25 to 27, on the sidelines of The Energy and Resources Institute’s World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2026.
The initiative aims to bring together researchers working in the Indian Himalayan Region with start-ups, investors and policymakers to enable collaboration, pilot deployment and access to funding for climate- and sustainability-focused innovations. The platform will be open to visitors on February 26 and 27.
According to the Ministry, Him-CONNECT has been designed as a bridge between science and enterprise, allowing research outcomes to move beyond laboratories into real-world applications. The event will showcase more than 24 technologies, prototypes, patents and pilot projects developed for the fragile Himalayan ecosystem under the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS).
Over 100 start-ups, incubators, investors and policymakers are expected to participate in the event.
The Ministry said that while NMHS has supported a wide range of science-based and locally relevant innovations over the years, many of these solutions require structured pathways for commercialisation and wider adoption. Him-CONNECT seeks to create a collaborative ecosystem where innovation, industry and policy converge.
The innovators represent leading academic and research institutions from across the country, including several Indian Institutes of Technology, CSIR laboratories, central universities, National Institutes of Technology, and specialised Himalayan research centres.
Drawing on over a decade of NMHS support to more than 250 action-oriented initiatives, Him-CONNECT will present field-tested and market-ready solutions across sectors such as water security, climate adaptation, waste-to-wealth, sustainable construction, renewable energy and nature-based livelihoods.
Key innovations on display include eco-friendly road construction techniques, hydroponic farming using treated wastewater, conversion of sericulture waste into burn ointments, low-cost mineralised water purifiers, pine needle-based wastewater treatment systems, decentralised wastewater reuse solutions, and yak milk cottage cheese processing technologies.
The Ministry said the platform will facilitate collaboration between researchers, start-ups, investors, industrial partners, development organisations and government agencies, enabling pilot deployments and long-term funding support.
Him-CONNECT also reflects India’s solution-oriented approach to climate leadership and South-South cooperation. By aligning science, finance and policy, the initiative aims to support climate resilience, green growth and sustainable development, not only in the Himalayas but also in other fragile and mountainous regions globally.
The Indian Himalayan Region is considered a critical life-support system for millions of people in the uplands and downstream areas. It plays a key role as a climate regulator for large parts of Asia and holds deep ecological, cultural and spiritual significance.
Under the National Mission on Himalayan Studies, the Ministry has supported targeted research and innovation to address challenges related to conservation, sustainable resource management, water security, biodiversity, livelihoods and waste management across the region.
