India Hosts BRICS Bharat Innovates Exposition 2026

The Union Ministry of Education, in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, is hosting the Bharat Innovates Exposition 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on September 11 and 12.

The exposition is being held alongside the 18th BRICS Summit 2026, scheduled for September 12 and 13 under India's BRICS Chairship. The two-day exposition aims to showcase India's deep-tech capabilities and strengthen collaboration between higher education institutions, research organisations, startups and global industry.

The BRICS Bharat Innovates Exposition will feature 37 Indian deep-tech startups and ventures selected from the original cohort of 120 startups and ventures that participated in Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice, France. These participating ventures are aligned with India's BRICS Chairship theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

The exposition is designed to bring India's higher education-led innovation ecosystem closer to international stakeholders, including corporations, investors, universities, research institutions, incubators, accelerators, governments and overseas alumni. The Bharat Innovates programme of the Ministry of Education seeks to create long-term international partnerships around innovations emerging from India's higher education ecosystem.

The initiative connects startups, higher education institutions (HEIs), laboratories and research parks with global stakeholders. At the BRICS exposition, this ecosystem will be linked with CEOs, investors, business leaders and industry representatives from BRICS member countries.

The exposition is being organised alongside the BRICS Business Forum on September 11, giving participating innovators an opportunity to explore business-to-business engagements, technology partnerships, investment opportunities and access to international markets. B2B meetings and structured matchmaking are being facilitated in coordination with industry bodies including FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi and other BRICS leaders are expected to visit the exposition. Senior Indian and international delegates associated with the BRICS Leaders' engagements, along with CEOs, investors and senior business leaders from BRICS member countries, are also expected to visit the exhibition on September 11 and 12.

For participating startups and innovators, the platform provides an opportunity to present their technologies to international investors and industry representatives while exploring potential partnerships and market opportunities. The Education Ministers' declaration sets five priority areas for cooperation in education among BRICS nations.

The BRICS Bharat Innovates Exposition 2026 is a significant event that highlights India's commitment to promoting innovation, research and startup ecosystems. It provides a platform for Indian startups and innovators to showcase their capabilities and collaborate with international stakeholders, which can lead to new business opportunities and partnerships.

The event is also expected to strengthen India's position as a leader in the BRICS grouping and promote cooperation in education, research and innovation among member countries. Overall, the BRICS Bharat Innovates Exposition 2026 is an important step towards promoting India's deep-tech capabilities and strengthening its position in the global innovation ecosystem.