India Puts 37 Deep

The Ministry of Education is showcasing 37 Indian deep-tech startups and ventures to BRICS leaders, investors and businesses at the BRICS Bharat Innovates (BBI) Exposition, which opened at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 11.

The two-day exposition, being held on September 11-12 alongside the BRICS Business Forum, is intended to connect Indian startups with CEOs, investors, business leaders and industry representatives from BRICS countries for B2B engagements, technology partnerships, investment discussions and international market access, according to the Ministry of Education.

The event is being held ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12-13 under India's BRICS chairship. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi and BRICS leaders are expected to visit the exposition, the ministry said.

37 Startups Selected From 120-Venture Cohort

The 37 startups participating in the exposition are drawn from the original cohort of 120 startups and ventures that took part in Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice, France, according to the Ministry of Education.

The exposition is aligned with India's BRICS chairship theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, and with the BRICS Education Track priority of “Enhancing Research, Innovation and Start-up Ecosystems”, the ministry said.

The participating innovators will have access to B2B meetings and structured matchmaking facilitated in coordination with FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM, with opportunities to engage directly with BRICS CEOs and investors. The exposition is being organised by the Ministry of Education in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs.

The startup showcase comes as India pushes for greater BRICS cooperation in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, digital public infrastructure and data centres.

Speaking at the BRICS Business Forum, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada identified digital services, particularly AI, as an important area of collaboration.

Prasada said AI has the potential to improve productivity, standard of living, incomes and outcomes for individuals and MSMEs. He also stressed the need to ensure access to compute, particularly in the Global South. He called for greater technology exchange and cooperation in AI while keeping the United Nations at the centre of governance.

India Calls For Semiconductor Cooperation

Prasada also highlighted India's Semiconductor Mission 2.0, which has a financial outlay of about $13 billion in incentives, and called for collaboration among BRICS countries to develop the entire semiconductor ecosystem.

He identified Digital Public Infrastructure and data centres as other areas for cooperation and sharing of India's experience.

Prasada also called for greater resources for research and development and startups, urging BRICS countries to “co-develop, co-invest and co-innovate” to enable young innovators to access markets across international borders.

The BBI Exposition builds on the maiden edition of Bharat Innovates 2026, which was held in Nice from June 14-16 under the India-France Year of Innovation. The ministry said the event showcased 120 Indian deep-tech startups and ventures across 13 thematic areas and included 15 institutes, including IITs, IISc, BIRAC and iDEX.

It said that the three-day event attracted more than 2,000 participants from 29 countries, generated 1,350 B2B meetings and resulted in more than 30 collaboration MoUs and partnerships.

Indian startups and ventures also secured funding commitments of $254.5 million following the event, the ministry said. The New Delhi exposition builds on that model by bringing Indian innovators into the wider BRICS business and investment ecosystem.

The Ministry of Education said the Bharat Innovates programme is designed to build long-term collaboration between India's innovation ecosystem — including startups, higher education institutions, laboratories and research parks — and global stakeholders such as corporates, investors, incubators, accelerators, universities, research institutes and governments.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said India's BRICS chairship has sought to strengthen the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem through the BRICS incubator network and BRICS Startup Innovation Fund.

Jaishankar identified AI, digital public infrastructure, fintech and advanced manufacturing as major opportunities for cooperation, while also highlighting questions around access, standards, security and trust.

He said India's large and growing market, expanding manufacturing capabilities, deeper pools of talent, digital experience and innovation base position the country to work with BRICS partners on the next phase of technology and business cooperation.

The Ministry of Education said the BBI Exposition is intended to give participating startups access to BRICS CEOs and investors, B2B meetings, technology partnerships and international markets, taking India's deep-tech ecosystem beyond domestic opportunities.

fintech and advanced manufacturing as major opportunities for cooperation, while also pointing to questions around access, standards, security and trust.

Jaishankar said India's large and growing market, expanding manufacturing capabilities, deeper pools of talent, digital experience and innovation ecosystem position it to work with BRICS partners on the next phase of technology and business cooperation.

The BBI Exposition is therefore aimed at taking Indian deep-tech innovation beyond domestic markets, with the focus on turning startup capabilities into technology partnerships, investment and international market access.