India Showcases 37 Deep-Tech Innovations at BRICS Exposition

India is showcasing 37 deep-tech startups and ventures at the BRICS Bharat Innovates Exposition on 11-12 September 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event is organised by the Union Ministry of Education in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and is linked to the 18th BRICS Summit 2026 under India’s BRICS Chairship.

Bharat Innovates programme

Bharat Innovates is a national programme of the Union Ministry of Education. It functions as a global accelerator for innovations from the Indian higher education ecosystem, including startups, Higher Education Institutions, laboratories and research parks. It also connects these institutions with corporates, investors, incubators, universities, research institutes, governments and overseas alumni.

BRICS Bharat Innovates Exposition

The BRICS Bharat Innovates Exposition is the second major exposition of India’s deep-tech startups in 2026. The first edition of Bharat Innovates was held in Nice, France, from 14 to 16 June 2026 under the India–France Year of Innovation 2026. That edition featured 120 deep-tech startups and ventures in 13 thematic areas and involved 15 institutes, including IITs, IISc, BIRAC and iDex. The 2026 Nice edition recorded over 2,000 participants from 29 countries. It also led to more than 30 collaboration MoUs and partnerships, 1,350 B2B meetings, and funding commitments of US$254.5 million for Indian startups and ventures.

BRICS Chairship and education priorities

India’s BRICS Chairship 2026 uses the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. The BRICS Education Track includes five priority areas, and one of them is “Enhancing Research, Innovation and Start-up Ecosystems”. The BRICS Bharat Innovates Exposition is aligned with this priority area. The Ministry of Education hosted the 13th BRICS Education Ministers’ Meeting on 7 August 2026 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, and the 3rd BRICS Senior Officials’ Meeting on Education on 5 August 2026 in the same city. The Education Ministers’ Meeting adopted the 13th BRICS Education Ministers’ Declaration.

Important Facts for Exams

• BRICS is an intergovernmental grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and it has expanded in recent years.
• Bharat Mandapam is a convention and exhibition venue in New Delhi.
• FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM are major Indian industry bodies involved in business networking and matchmaking.
• BIRAC stands for Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, and iDex is the Innovations for Defence Excellence initiative.

BRICS education cooperation

The 13th BRICS Education Ministers’ Declaration covers cooperation in early childhood care and foundational literacy and numeracy, skill development and TVET, research and innovation, mutual recognition of qualifications, and capacity building for academic leadership and institutional development. The BRICS Business Forum on 11 September 2026 provides a platform for B2B meetings, technology partnerships, investment discussions and international market access.