GS Paper II | International Cooperation | BRICS | Education Diplomacy
GS Paper III | Science & Technology | Deep Tech | Startups | Innovation Ecosystem
Current Affairs | 12 September 2026
BRICS Bharat Innovates 2026: India’s Deep-Tech Diplomacy and the Future of Innovation
Introduction
India is using the 18th BRICS Summit 2026 not only for diplomatic negotiations but also to showcase its emerging deep-technology ecosystem.
The Ministry of Education, in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, organised the BRICS Bharat Innovates Exposition on 11–12 September 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The exposition brings together 37 Indian deep-tech startups and ventures selected from the larger Bharat Innovates cohort and connects them with BRICS leaders, investors, CEOs, universities, research institutions and global industry representatives.
Its significance lies in a broader shift in India's innovation strategy:
Research → Startup → Investment → Commercialisation → Global Market Access
India is therefore attempting to convert domestic scientific capability into economic competitiveness and diplomatic influence.
Body
What is Bharat Innovates?
Bharat Innovates is a national programme led by the Ministry of Education.
Its purpose is to connect India's higher-education innovation ecosystem—including:
- startups;
- IITs;
- IISc;
- laboratories;
- research parks;
- incubators;
with global:
- investors;
- corporations;
- universities;
- governments;
- research institutions.
The programme therefore tries to address one of India's long-standing innovation challenges:
good research often fails to become commercially scalable technology.
Bharat Innovates attempts to bridge this gap.
BRICS Bharat Innovates Exposition
The New Delhi exposition is the second major international showcase of Indian deep-tech startups in 2026.
The first major edition was held in Nice, France, from 14–16 June 2026 under the India–France Year of Innovation.
From the original cohort of around 120 ventures, 37 were selected for the BRICS showcase in New Delhi.
The exposition is aligned with India's BRICS Chairship theme:
“Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
It also supports a BRICS Education Track priority:
Enhancing Research, Innovation and Start-up Ecosystems.
Why is Deep Tech different from ordinary startups?
Deep-tech companies are generally based on significant scientific or engineering advances.
Unlike many conventional digital startups, they often require:
- long research cycles;
- specialised laboratories;
- large amounts of capital;
- scientific talent;
- intellectual property;
- regulatory approval.
Examples include technologies involving:
- artificial intelligence;
- advanced computing;
- semiconductors;
- biotechnology;
- medical devices;
- space technology;
- defence technology;
- advanced materials;
- quantum technologies;
- clean energy.
Thus:
Conventional startup: often business-model innovation
Deep-tech startup: frequently science- or engineering-led technological innovation
13 critical technology domains
The wider Bharat Innovates ecosystem has showcased innovation across 13 major domains, including:
- Advanced Computing
- Healthcare & MedTech
- Space & Defence
- Energy & Sustainability
- Semiconductors
- Biotechnology
- Smart Cities & Mobility
- Blue Economy
- Next-Generation Communications
- Agri & Food Technologies
- Advanced Materials
- Manufacturing & Industry 4.0
- Disaster Management
These areas are strategically important because they sit at the intersection of:
economic competitiveness + national security + technological sovereignty.
Why higher-education institutions matter
Many breakthrough technologies originate in universities and research institutions.
India has a substantial scientific base in:
- IITs;
- IISc;
- research laboratories;
- medical institutions;
- universities.
However, India has historically faced challenges in converting academic research into commercially successful enterprises.
This is often described as the lab-to-market gap.
The problem can be represented as:
Research → Prototype → ? → Commercial Product
The missing middle may involve:
- venture funding;
- product engineering;
- industry partnerships;
- regulatory support;
- intellectual-property management;
- market access.
Bharat Innovates attempts to provide this missing bridge.
Results from Bharat Innovates in France
The first Bharat Innovates international showcase in Nice provides evidence of the model's commercial potential.
According to the Ministry of Education, the event included:
- 120 deep-tech startups and ventures;
- participation from 15 major institutions;
- more than 2,000 participants;
- representatives from 29 countries;
- around 1,350 B2B meetings;
- more than 30 MoUs and partnerships.
Most significantly, participating Indian startups received funding commitments worth approximately US$254.5 million.
This illustrates an important policy lesson:
Innovation ecosystems need not only grants but also structured access to capital, customers and international networks.
What does the BRICS exposition add?
The BRICS edition provides startups direct exposure to:
- CEOs from BRICS economies;
- institutional investors;
- industry associations;
- government delegations;
- research institutions;
- potential technology partners.
Structured matchmaking is being supported through organisations such as:
- FICCI;
- CII;
- ASSOCHAM.
The objective is to generate:
B2B partnerships + investment + technology collaboration + international market access.
Deep-Tech diplomacy
Traditionally, diplomacy focused heavily on:
- security;
- trade;
- treaties;
- geopolitics.
Technology is increasingly becoming another diplomatic instrument.
Countries now compete and cooperate in areas such as:
- semiconductors;
- AI;
- quantum computing;
- biotechnology;
- space;
- cybersecurity.
This has created what may be called technology diplomacy.
India's BRICS Bharat Innovates initiative represents a specific form of this:
Domestic innovation → international showcase → strategic partnerships
Technology therefore becomes both an economic asset and a tool of foreign policy.
Why BRICS is useful for Indian deep-tech firms
BRICS countries offer a diverse set of opportunities.
The grouping contains:
- large consumer markets;
- energy producers;
- manufacturing centres;
- mineral-rich economies;
- growing digital economies.
Indian startups can potentially collaborate with BRICS partners in:
- agricultural technologies;
- healthcare;
- renewable energy;
- fintech;
- digital infrastructure;
- manufacturing;
- space.
For developing countries, Indian technologies may also offer relatively affordable alternatives to expensive solutions from advanced economies.
Deep tech and strategic autonomy
Dependence on foreign technology can create strategic vulnerability.
This is especially true for critical technologies such as:
- semiconductors;
- defence systems;
- telecommunications;
- AI;
- pharmaceuticals.
A strong domestic deep-tech ecosystem can reduce dependence on external suppliers.
Thus, deep-tech development supports not only economic growth but also strategic autonomy.
Government support: RDI Scheme
India's deep-tech ecosystem is also being supported through broader policy measures.
The Government approved the Research, Development and Innovation Scheme with a corpus of around ₹1 lakh crore over six years.
Priority areas include:
- quantum technologies;
- robotics;
- space;
- biotechnology;
- synthetic biology;
- pharmaceuticals;
- medical devices;
- AI;
- energy transition;
- digital economy.
The aim is to increase private-sector participation in research and development.
Why private R&D matters
India has historically relied heavily on government institutions for research expenditure.
Advanced economies typically see much larger participation from private industry.
A stronger private R&D ecosystem can:
- increase commercialisation;
- improve productivity;
- create intellectual property;
- generate high-skilled employment.
The policy objective therefore needs to shift from:
Government-funded research alone
towards:
Government + Industry + Universities + Startups
Intellectual Property challenge
Deep-tech firms depend heavily on patents and intellectual property.
But Indian researchers and startups often face challenges involving:
- patent costs;
- legal expertise;
- international protection;
- technology valuation.
Strong institutional support is needed so that Indian innovation is not commercialised abroad without adequate domestic value creation.
Funding challenge: the “Valley of Death”
Deep-tech startups frequently face what is known as the Valley of Death.
This refers to the stage between:
successful research prototype → commercially viable product
At this stage:
- scientific risk remains high;
- revenues may still be low;
- capital requirements increase.
Traditional investors may consider such companies too risky.
Patient capital, government-backed funds and specialised venture financing therefore become important.
Why procurement matters
Government itself can become an early customer for deep-tech companies.
For example:
- defence startups can supply armed forces;
- MedTech firms can work with public hospitals;
- climate-tech firms can support public infrastructure.
Public procurement can therefore help startups move from prototypes to scale.
Global market access
Domestic demand alone may be insufficient for highly specialised technologies.
International market access allows firms to achieve:
- larger production scale;
- lower unit costs;
- stronger revenues.
Bharat Innovates therefore links innovation policy with export strategy.
Education diplomacy
The exposition also demonstrates the changing role of higher education in foreign policy.
Universities can now become important participants in:
- international research networks;
- startup partnerships;
- scientific diplomacy;
- technology transfer.
BRICS education cooperation in 2026 has identified five priorities, including:
- foundational learning;
- skill development and TVET;
- research and innovation;
- mutual recognition of qualifications;
- academic leadership capacity.
Challenges
1. Low commercialisation of research
A scientific publication does not automatically become a successful product.
India needs stronger technology-transfer institutions.
2. Long funding cycles
Deep-tech firms require patient capital.
Short-term venture-capital models may not suit them.
3. Talent retention
Advanced scientific talent is globally mobile.
India must create competitive research careers and laboratories.
4. Scale-up infrastructure
Startups need:
- fabrication facilities;
- testing laboratories;
- pilot plants;
- certification facilities.
These are expensive.
5. Regulatory uncertainty
Biotechnology, medical devices, drones and AI can face complex approval systems.
Regulation must protect public interest without unnecessarily delaying innovation.
6. Import dependence
Some Indian deep-tech firms themselves depend on imported:
- chips;
- sensors;
- specialised equipment.
Domestic innovation ecosystems therefore require stronger manufacturing supply chains.
Way Forward
Strengthen university–industry collaboration
Research institutions should work more closely with firms during early stages of product development.
Expand patient capital
Specialised deep-tech funds should support long gestation periods.
Build shared infrastructure
Common testing and fabrication facilities can reduce costs for startups.
Improve technology transfer offices
Universities should professionally manage patents, licensing and commercialisation.
Use government procurement strategically
Public agencies can become first customers for high-quality Indian technologies.
Expand international innovation partnerships
Platforms such as Bharat Innovates should become recurring mechanisms linked to major diplomatic engagements.
Protect strategic technologies
International collaboration should coexist with safeguards for critical intellectual property and national security.
Focus on inclusive innovation
Deep technology should address India's development challenges in:
- healthcare;
- agriculture;
- climate resilience;
- disaster management.
Conclusion
BRICS Bharat Innovates 2026 represents a shift in how India approaches both innovation and diplomacy.
The objective is no longer simply to produce research or build startups.
It is to create a complete pipeline:
Research → Technology → Startup → Investment → Global Commercialisation
By placing 37 Indian deep-tech ventures alongside BRICS leaders, investors and global industry, India is attempting to convert its scientific ecosystem into economic and diplomatic capital.
The ultimate success of this strategy will depend on what happens after the exhibition.
If international showcases translate into sustained funding, manufacturing, intellectual property and scalable businesses, deep technology can become a major pillar of India's growth and strategic autonomy.
India's long-term goal should therefore be not merely to become a large market for advanced technologies, but to become a major creator and exporter of them.
Mains Practice Questions
Q1. Deep-tech innovation requires an ecosystem extending well beyond conventional startup financing. Examine the role of universities, patient capital and international partnerships in building India’s deep-tech capabilities.
15 Marks | 250 Words
Q2. Technology diplomacy is increasingly becoming an important component of India’s foreign policy. Discuss with reference to initiatives such as BRICS Bharat Innovates.
10 Marks | 150 Words
Sources
PIB – BRICS Bharat Innovates Exposition 2026
PIB – Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit and 13 Critical Technology Domains
PIB – Research, Development and Innovation Scheme and Deep-Tech Policy
PIB – Bharat Innovates 2026 and India’s Global Innovation Ecosystem
