New Delhi, June 12: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched two strategic documents on Friday under the “India Innovates” initiative. These documents highlight India’s emerging innovation and startup ecosystem within higher education and research institutions. This initiative reinforces the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aims to transform India from a nation of knowledge consumers to one of knowledge creators, innovators, and technology leaders.
Present at the event were India’s Principal Scientific Advisor Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Higher Education Department Dr. Vineet Joshi, Mission Director of NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission Deepak Bagla, Joint Secretary of Technical Education Soumya Gupta, and senior officials from the Ministry of Education.
Speaking at the event, Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized that one of the key objectives of NEP 2020 is to shift India from a knowledge consumption system to a knowledge creation and innovation system. He noted that the startups included in the India Innovates strategic documents are emerging from the country’s leading institutions, incubators, and research systems, reflecting the growing innovative capacity of India’s higher education sector.
The Minister stated that the India Innovates initiative reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of elevating India’s innovation capabilities on a global scale. He further mentioned that this initiative aligns with the Prime Minister’s broader mission of creating a developed India based on innovation.
Pradhan highlighted that the India Innovates program is providing Indian startups with opportunities to connect with global investment firms managing over $3 trillion in assets and representing more than 12,000 investments worldwide. He added that the program anticipates the participation of over 100 global investors and leading institutions, showcasing the increasing international confidence in India’s deep-tech and innovation ecosystem.
The Minister reported significant interest from investors, with final agreements nearing completion for approximately $20 million in investments. He also mentioned that multiple roadshows have been conducted in Paris, Tokyo, and Bengaluru to strengthen international engagement for Indian startups.
Discussing the research and innovation ecosystem within higher education institutions, the Minister stated that IITs, IISc, BITS Pilani, and other leading institutions will showcase their key research and innovation projects under India Innovates, highlighting the growing contribution of academic-led innovation to national development.
Pradhan noted that the initiative is paving a planned path for international engagement through the Incubator Innovation Bridge and Industry Innovation Bridge, connecting Indian innovators with leading global institutions, corporations, and innovation ecosystems. He mentioned the likelihood of signing 28 innovation-focused memorandums of understanding with France and other international partners.
Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor, praised the Ministry of Education’s role in advancing India’s deep-tech startup agenda. He emphasized the Ministry’s significant role in accelerating the deep-tech startup ecosystem by increasing the number of research-based startups emerging from academic and research institutions. Professor Sood further stated that India should not only create deep-tech companies but also develop a profound culture of deep-tech innovation.
The two strategic documents released during the event include the India Innovates Startup Compendium, detailing 120 high-potential startups selected from across the country. These documents provide sector-specific market insights, technology trends, global opportunity mapping, and pathways for strategic engagement to help startups identify future growth opportunities. The second strategic document showcases nearly 50 cutting-edge research and innovation projects from leading higher education and research institutions, including IITs and IISc.
Under the India-France Innovation Year, the Ministry of Education is organizing India Innovates 2026 in Nice, France, from June 14-16, 2026. This event brings together 120 distinguished deep-tech innovators selected from over 3,000 enterprises, highlighting India’s research capabilities in critical areas such as space, defense, biotechnology, and quantum computing. A key feature of this event is the participation of 15 leading higher education institutions, including IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and IIT Madras, which collectively hold over 1,500 patents and have raised more than $1.5 billion, including two listed companies, Ideaforge and Ather Energy.
–
Leave a Comment