Key facts
- Over 120 Indian deep-tech startups are exhibiting in Nice, France.
- Bharat Innovates 2026 is India's first large-scale deep-tech ecosystem showcase in Europe.
- Key sectors highlighted include space, AI, defense, semiconductors, and biotechnology.
- The event precedes the launch of India's first privately developed orbital rocket, Vikram-1.
- India aims to increase its share in the global space economy, which was opened to private players in 2020.
- The Indian startup ecosystem is projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2030.
India is making a significant push onto the global stage with its burgeoning deep-tech sector, exemplified by Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice, France. This event brings together over 120 Indian startups, venture capital funds, and research institutions to highlight advancements in critical areas such as space technology, artificial intelligence, defense, semiconductors, and biotechnology.
France serves as a key partner and a strategic gateway for India's technological ambitions in Europe. The partnership spans various sectors, including joint satellite missions like TRISHNA. Indian startups are developing advanced technologies, including rockets with cryogenic engines and satellites with continuous Earth monitoring capabilities, alongside sophisticated AI models.
The timing of Bharat Innovates 2026 is particularly noteworthy, coinciding with preparations for the launch of Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital rocket designed for small satellite deployment. This development underscores the success of India's policy framework, which opened the space sector to private players in 2020 with the aim of boosting its global space economy share.
India's overall deep-tech ecosystem is experiencing rapid growth, boasting over 200,000 recognized startups, more than 120 unicorns, and an annual influx of 1.5 million engineering graduates. The nation ranks third in AI competitiveness according to Stanford University, and its startup ecosystem is projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2030. This growth is supported by government initiatives such as the $5 billion Anusandhan National Research Foundation and a substantial R&D scheme to mitigate risks for private sector innovation.
Bharat Innovates 2026 is intended to foster collaborations for co-building, co-investing, and co-developing technologies for global markets, aligning with a shared belief in responsible and accessible technological governance between India and Europe.