The Union Ministry of Education, in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, is organizing ‘Bharat Innovates Exposition’ on 11-12 September 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi to showcase India's Deep-Tech innovations as a lead up to and alongside the 18th BRICS Summit 2026, to be held on 12th and 13th September 2026 under India’s BRICS Chairship.
Bharat Innovates is a national programme of the Union Ministry of Education. It is designed as a global accelerator for innovations from the Indian Higher Education Ecosystem – building a long-term collaboration between India’s innovation ecosystem (startups, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), labs and research parks) and global stakeholders (corporates, investors, incubators/accelerators, universities, research institutes, governments and overseas alumni).
The BRICS Bharat Innovates (BBI) Exposition at the Bharat Mandapam marks the second major exposition of India’s Deep-Tech startups in 2026 after the maiden edition of Bharat Innovates that was held in Nice, France from 14-16 June 2026.
BBI is showcasing 37 India’s Deep-Tech startups/ventures (out of the original cohort of 120 startups/ventures that participated in BI2026, Nice), alligning with the theme of India’s BRICS Chairship, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.
The Exposition is being held alongside BRICS Business Forum on 11 September 2026, providing participating innovators an opportunity to network with CEOs, investors, business leaders and industry representatives from BRICS member countries. This will facilitate opportunities for B2B engagements, technology partnerships, investment discussions, business linkages and international market access. The Exposition also advances the BRICS Education Track priority of "Enhancing Research, Innovation and Start-up Ecosystems", one of the five priority areas identified under India's BRICS Chairship 2026.
Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi, Union Minister of Education Shri Pralhad Joshi and BRICS leaders are expected to visit the BBI Exposition. Senior Indian and international delegates associated with the BRICS Leaders’ engagements as well as CEOs, investors and senior business leaders from BRICS Member Countries are also expected to visit the BBI Exposition on 11-12 September 2026.
For the participating startups/innovators, the BBI Exposition offers a high-profile platform to convert domestic innovation into international commercial and diplomatic outcomes, including, direct access to BRICS CEOs and investors, Head-of-State/Government visibility, B2B meetings and structured matchmaking facilitated in coordination with FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM, and brand and diplomatic credibility.
The maiden edition of Bharat Innovates 2026, was held under the India–France Year of Innovation 2026 and was jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President of the French Republic H.E. Emmanuel Macron. The three day Event showcased India’s top 120 deep-tech startups/ventures in 13 thematic areas and 15 institutes (IITs, IISc, BIRAC & iDex). It saw over 2000 participants from 29 countries. Over 30 collaboration MoUs and partnerships were forged and Indian startups/ventures, secured funding commitments of US $ 254.5 million, consequent to 1,350 B2B meetings.
BRICS Bharat Innovates Exposition builds on the Ministry of Education's engagements under India's BRICS Chairship 2026. The Ministry hosted the 13th BRICS Education Ministers' Meeting on 7 August 2026, and the 3rd BRICS Senior Officials' Meeting on Education on 5 August 2026 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The Education Ministers Meeting concluded with the adoption of the 13th BRICS Education Ministers' Declaration, outlining cooperation across five priority areas, including Strengthening Early Childhood Care and Education and Foundational Literacy and Numeracy; Skill Development and TVET; Research, Innovation and Start-up Ecosystems; Mutual Recognition of Qualifications; and Capacity Building for Academic Leadership and Institutional Development.