NEW DELHI: India is throwing open the doors of its universities and national research labs, offering innovations and products to global investors and collaborators as it looks to turn ideas into international partnerships. In a world where alliances are shifting, Delhi is seeking multiple players for its innovation story. Its new initiative, Bharat Innovates 2026, is designed to showcase Indian deep-tech talent, connect institutions with global capital, and position India as a predictable partner in unpredictable times.The first showcase will take place in Nice, France, from June 17 to 19, 2026, where around 100 ventures will be presented to European investors, policymakers and technology leaders. By making Europe the first testing ground, India is underlining its strategic intent – tying its innovation ambitions to a continent looking to diversify away from global supply chain tensions.Under the aegis of the ministry of education and guided by the principal scientific adviser, with IIT-Bombay as nodal institution, the ventures will span critical domains such as biotechnology, Industry 4.0, smart cities and mobility, AI and quantum computing, space and defence, semiconductors, agri-food technologies, medtech, sustainable energy, advanced materials and rare-earth minerals. The scale and timing of the initiative reflect a broader geopolitical recalibration. With supply chain disruptions, policy volatility in Washington and escalating global trade rivalry, Europe is searching for stable technology partners. For Brussels, India is steadily emerging as a reliable alternative. German economy minister Robert Habeck recently called India “a key partner of the German economy in the Indo-Pacific,” while European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in today’s “intense geostrategic competition,” Europe intends to “strengthen ties with one of our most reliable allies.”For India, too, the move is deliberate. Govt has been signalling India’s readiness to offer consistency at a time of turbulence. By creating platforms like Bharat Innovates, India is simultaneously diversifying partnerships, hedging its geopolitical bets and inviting global investment into homegrown innovation.Over 430 applications, which remains open until Sept 30, have been initiated of which majority are from healthcare and medtech, energy and sustainability, advance computing and AI, and space and defence.
