New Delhi: The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) showcased its leadership in research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and global engagement at Bharat Innovates 2026, the flagship national innovation initiative of the Government of India being held in Nice, France from 14–16 June 2026.
Jointly inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the President of France H.E. Emmanuel Macron, Bharat Innovates 2026 brought together leading Higher Education Institutions and Centrally Funded Technical Institutes, startups, investors, and industry leaders from India and across the world to strengthen collaborations in deep technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The significance of IIT Delhi’s global partnerships was highlighted during the inauguration and exhibition interactions led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron.
President Macron referred to the ongoing partnership between IIT Delhi and Sorbonne University as an exemplar of the growing India–France collaboration in higher education, research, and innovation. The recognition of this partnership by the French President underscores IIT Delhi’s role in fostering impactful international collaborations and advancing scientific diplomacy.
During the event, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi acknowledged the role of IIT Delhi’s Board of Governors Chairperson, Shri Harish Salve, in conceptualising and shaping the Bharat Innovates initiative as a key architect of its design and vision.
IIT Delhi played a leadership role in Bharat Innovates 2026 as a co-chair of the Incubator Innovation Bridge with IIT Bombay, a global platform aimed at connecting incubators, universities, startups, investors, and research organizations.
The initiative seeks to enable incubator-to-incubator partnerships, startup immersion programmes, mentoring networks, and cross-border technology transfer, creating pathways for deep-tech ventures to scale globally.
The event highlighted India’s emergence as a global innovation powerhouse, with premier institutions playing a central role in advancing research translation, startup creation, and technology-driven societal impact. Through a nationwide selection across different domains, 120 startups from 13 frontier sectors were selected for showcasing, of which several are from IIT Delhi.
At Bharat Innovates 2026, IIT Delhi showcased a number of innovative technologies and products developed by its researchers in the areas of healthcare, smart textiles, defence, AI, quantum communication, energy, and sustainable solutions.
These innovations attracted significant interest from global technology leaders, industry representatives, investors, and policymakers, highlighting the strong translational research and innovation ecosystem at the Institute.
During the event, IIT Delhi entered into multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with international academic institutions viz., (1) Institut Polytechnique de Paris, (2) Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT), and (3) Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA). To strengthen the bridge between the Indian and French Startup and Innovation Ecosystems, Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) of IIT Delhi has signed MoUs with (1) DDI (Descartes Développement & Innovation) incubator, (2) Racine ds France and (3) G2i Ventures.
IIT Delhi has initiated a Joint PhD, and Joint Masters Programme in Biological Sciences, with Sorbonne University, and a Joint International PG Diploma in “Solar Systems and Management” with International Solar Alliance.
IIT Delhi’s deeptech faculty led startup CYRAN-AI signed a strategic MoU with French Aerospace and Defence giant Safran Aircraft Engines. This partnership will harness CYRAN’s advanced real-time multi-sensor Edge AI platform OS for automated inspection and predictive maintenance of next-generation precision manufacturing and aero-engine MRO Operations.CYRAN AI signed another MoU with Innatera, a Dutch semiconductor company, to build advanced ultra-low-power neuromorphic physical AI for edge wearables and intelligent sensing applications.
The MoUs signed during Bharat Innovates 2026 mark an important milestone in IIT Delhi’s strategy of strengthening international partnerships and expanding its global research footprint. By leveraging complementary strengths across institutions and innovation ecosystems, these collaborations are expected to address shared global challenges in areas such as sustainability, health, digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, and artificial intelligence.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi, said, “Bharat Innovates 2026 marks a significant step forward in positioning India’s innovation ecosystem on the global stage. We believe there is significant synergy in our partnerships of research and innovation with the French universities and together we can innovate and cocreate to solve for India, France and beyond. The recognition of IIT Delhi’s collaboration with Sorbonne University, International Solar Alliance, and the new partnerships established through multiple MoUs reflect our commitment to building strong, long-term international collaborations. These engagements will accelerate research translation, strengthen our innovation ecosystem, and enable solutions that address global challenges.”
As India strengthens its position as a global hub for science, technology, and innovation, IIT Delhi remains committed to advancing knowledge creation, nurturing future leaders, and developing transformative solutions that contribute to national development and global well-being.
