New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Education, in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, is hosting the ‘Bharat Innovates Exposition’ at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 11–12 September 2026, showcasing India’s emerging deep-tech capabilities ahead of and alongside the 18th BRICS Summit, being held on 12–13 September under India’s BRICS Chairship.
The exposition is designed to connect India’s rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem with global stakeholders and provide Indian deep-tech ventures with opportunities for international collaboration, investment and market access.
37 Deep-Tech Startups to Showcase Innovations
The BRICS Bharat Innovates (BBI) Exposition is showcasing 37 Indian deep-tech startups and ventures, selected from the original cohort of 120 startups and ventures that participated in the first Bharat Innovates 2026 edition in Nice, France.
The exposition aligns with India’s BRICS Chairship theme of “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” It is being held alongside the BRICS Business Forum on 11 September, giving participating innovators an opportunity to interact directly with CEOs, investors, business leaders and industry representatives from BRICS member countries.
The platform is expected to facilitate B2B engagements, technology partnerships, investment discussions, business linkages and international market access for Indian startups.
Connecting Indian Innovation With Global Markets
‘Bharat Innovates’ is a national programme of the Ministry of Education aimed at accelerating innovations emerging from India’s higher education ecosystem. It seeks to establish long-term collaboration between Indian startups, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), laboratories and research parks and global stakeholders, including corporates, investors, incubators, accelerators, universities, research institutions, governments and overseas alumni.
The BBI Exposition also supports one of the key priorities under India’s BRICS Education Track — “Enhancing Research, Innovation and Start-up Ecosystems.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister of Education Pralhad Joshi and BRICS leaders are expected to visit the exposition. Senior Indian and international delegates participating in BRICS Leaders’ engagements, along with CEOs, investors and senior business leaders from BRICS member countries, are also expected to visit the event on 11–12 September.
For participating startups, the exposition offers high-level exposure to BRICS decision-makers and investors, including opportunities for B2B meetings and structured matchmaking facilitated in coordination with FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM. The platform is also expected to enhance the international business and diplomatic visibility of Indian innovators.
Bharat Innovates Builds on Successful Nice Edition
The BRICS exposition is the second major Bharat Innovates showcase of India’s deep-tech startups in 2026, following the inaugural edition held in Nice, France, from 14–16 June 2026.
The maiden edition was organised under the India–France Year of Innovation 2026 and was jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. It featured 120 Indian deep-tech startups and ventures across 13 thematic areas, representing 15 institutions including IITs, IISc, BIRAC and iDEX.
The three-day event attracted more than 2,000 participants from 29 countries. It resulted in more than 30 collaboration MoUs and partnerships, while Indian startups and ventures secured funding commitments of US$254.5 million following around 1,350 B2B meetings.
Strengthening BRICS Education and Innovation Cooperation
The BBI Exposition further builds on the Ministry of Education’s engagements under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026.
The Ministry hosted the 3rd BRICS Senior Officials’ Meeting on Education on 5 August 2026 and the 13th BRICS Education Ministers’ Meeting on 7 August 2026 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
The Education Ministers’ meeting concluded with the adoption of the 13th BRICS Education Ministers’ Declaration, which outlines cooperation across five priority areas: early childhood care 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.
The Bharat Innovates Exposition therefore places India’s deep-tech ecosystem at the centre of its broader BRICS agenda, seeking to convert research and startup capabilities into cross-border partnerships, investment opportunities and globally scalable solutions.