In a major step towards positioning India’s innovations on the global stage, IInvenTiv 2026 commenced at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad as a key national feeder platform to Bharat Innovates 2026, setting in motion a powerful ecosystem to transform research into scalable, market-ready technologies. The flagship R&D fair brings together top academic leaders, industry experts, startups, and investors to create a seamless pathway from Indian laboratories to global deployment.
Aligned with national missions such as Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India, the event reflects India’s growing ambition to become a global hub of deep-tech innovation. By linking domestic innovation platforms with Bharat Innovates 2026, IInvenTiv is enabling structured pathways for global partnerships, capital access, and international market integration.
The formal inaugural session was graced by the Hon’ble Governor of Jharkhand, Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, who inaugurated the event as the Chief Guest, in the presence of distinguished Guests of Honour including Shri Athar Shahab, Managing Director, Zuari Industries Limited; Ms. Vaishali Nigam Sinha, Co-Founder, ReNew; Shri Sandeep Kumar, Vice President, Tata Steel; and Dr. Sunil K. Barnwal (IAS), CEO, National Health Authority. The dignitaries collectively emphasized the importance of innovation-led growth, sustainability, and strong industry-academia linkages in shaping India’s technological future.
The inaugural day also featured a high-level Roundtable on Research, Development and Innovation (RDI), bringing together leading academic figures including Prof. Sukumar Mishra (Director, IIT ISM Dhanbad) along with Directors of IITs, NITs, and premier institutions, alongside industry leaders and venture capitalists. The discussions focused on scaling innovation in strategic sectors, building robust commercialization pipelines, and accelerating the transition of research into deployable technologies.
Delivering the welcome address, Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, said:
“IInvenTiv 2026 reflects our commitment to transforming research into real-world impact. By bringing together academia, industry, startups, and investors, we are building a seamless pipeline where innovations can be validated, scaled, and taken to the global stage through Bharat Innovates 2026.”
In his address, Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Hon’ble Governor of Jharkhand, described IInvenTiv 2026 as a transformative platform shaping India’s innovation-driven future. He emphasized converting research into societal solutions and enterprise and highlighted advancements across AI, healthcare, semiconductors, and materials. He urged youth to innovate with discipline and vision towards a developed India by 2047.
Ms. Vaishali Nigam Sinha, Co-Founder, ReNew, termed IInvenTiv 2026 as a reflection of New India’s intellectual ambition, stressing the importance of innovation in climate and technological transitions. She emphasized ReNew Centre of Excellence’s role in just energy transition, particularly in coal-bearing regions.
Shri Sandeep Kumar, Vice President, Tata Steel, described IIT (ISM) as a cradle of innovation, highlighting industry-academia collaboration for meaningful R&D.
Dr. Shirishendu Mukherjee, Managing Director, Wadhwani Innovation Network, emphasized that true progress lies in translating science into societal impact. Wadhwani Centre of Excellence will act as a bridge between research, industry, and national capability, fostering a systems-driven approach to innovation, skilling, and entrepreneurship.
Shri Athar Shahab, Managing Director, Zuari Industries Limited, highlighted India’s dependence on imported industrial technologies and stressed the need for indigenous innovation and manufacturing capabilities. He called for deeper collaboration to build self-reliant, innovation-driven industrial ecosystems.
Dr. Sunil K. Barnwal, CEO, National Health Authority, spoke about India’s strong digital health foundation under Ayushman Bharat and the Ayushman Digital Mission. He emphasized AI-driven predictive and preventive healthcare, and the potential for digital public infrastructure to create a connected, intelligent healthcare ecosystem.
Centres of Excellence Inaugurated
Two key Centres of Excellence were inaugurated:
- ReNew Centre of Excellence
- Focus: Coal-to-green transition
- Skilling, just energy transition, and sustainable livelihoods for coal-dependent communities.
- Wadhwani Innovation Network Centre of Excellence on Critical Minerals
- Focus: Research, innovation, and capacity building across India’s critical minerals value chain.
- Themes: sustainability, inclusivity, future-ready innovation ecosystems.
Technology Demonstration and Innovation Showcase
Over 150 innovations across AI, healthcare, semiconductors, materials science, and earth sciences were showcased, demonstrating India’s readiness for global scaling.
Plenary Session 1: Semiconductor Technology & Chip Design
Moderated by Prof. Devendra Jalihal (Director, IIT Guwahati)
Speakers: Prof. V. Kamakoti, Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Shri Raghu Panicker, Dr. Wasi Uddin
Focus: Robust domestic semiconductor ecosystem, talent development, supply-chain integration.
Plenary Session 2: Artificial Intelligence
Moderated by Prof. T. N. Singh (Director, IIT Patna)
Focus: Scaling AI innovations, ethical AI, data governance, digital systems, investment frameworks.
Plenary Session 3: Material Sciences
Moderated by Prof. Amit Patra
Focus: Next-generation materials, global collaboration, commercialization pathways, sustainable innovations.
Plenary Session 4: Healthcare Innovations
Moderated by Prof. Suman Chakraborty
Themes: digital health ecosystems, biotech advancements, scalable healthcare delivery, public digital infrastructure.
Plenary Session 5: Earth Sciences
Moderated by Prof. Sukumar Mishra
Focus: Sustainable mining, resource management, advanced exploration technologies, environmental sustainability.
Fireside Chat with Venture Capitalists
Discussions on:
- Investment trends
- Startup scaling
- Global market integration
Day 2 Preview
Day 2 will feature:
- Academia-to-business (A2B) matchmaking
- Startup pitching sessions
- Expert sessions on innovation ecosystems
- Digital public infrastructure
- Concluding roadmap session
Closing Note
As a strategic precursor to Bharat Innovates 2026, IInvenTiv 2026 will identify and elevate India’s most promising innovations, reinforcing India’s emergence as a leader in deep-tech innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship.
