The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) will represent India's deep-tech ambitions at Bharat Innovates 2026, an international technology showcase organised by the Ministry of Education in France from 14 to 16 June 2026. The institute will lead two of the event's 13 thematic areas and present 15 incubated startups alongside five major research projects, according to the institute.

What IIT Madras Will Showcase

The institute's pavilion will highlight India's capabilities across Hyperloop technology, lab-grown diamond technologies, 5G and 6G communications, port automation, and a domain-specific low-compute indigenous AI ecosystem. These five research verticals have been selected to demonstrate the breadth of indigenous technology development emerging from India's centrally funded technical institutes.

IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti said the India-France Year of Innovation 2026 and Bharat Innovates 2026 are expected to create new opportunities for collaboration between IIT Madras and French universities, research laboratories, startups, and industries. 'The event opens up opportunities for joint research in 6G technologies, shared testbeds, standards development, startup partnerships, technology transfer and talent exchange programmes,' he said.

Key Startups and Technologies on Display

IIT Madras will lead the Blue Economy and Next-Generation Communications thematic tracks at the event. In the communications segment, startups including REIO Systems, Astrome Technologies, and WiSig Networks will present indigenous software-defined radio platforms, wireless backhaul systems, and Open RAN-based 5G solutions.

Under the Blue Economy track, Planys Technologies — an IIT Madras-incubated startup — will demonstrate underwater inspection technologies using remotely operated vehicles, autonomous systems, and AI-driven diagnostics for maritime and offshore infrastructure. Another startup, Zerocircle, will present seaweed-derived natural polymer materials as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastic packaging.

Hyperloop and Lab-Grown Diamond Highlights

Among the strategic technologies, IIT Madras will present its Hyperloop research programme, for which the institute has been designated the Centre of Excellence for Hyperloop Technology by the Ministry of Railways. The institute is collaborating with startup TuTr Hyperloop on propulsion, levitation, and vacuum tube technologies.

The institute will also display innovations from the Indian Centre for Lab Grown Diamonds (InCent LGD), including laser-based technologies capable of embedding invisible identification markings within diamonds for authentication and traceability. Work on smart port automation and low-compute AI models developed through IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation will also feature at the pavilion.

Broader Significance for India-France Tech Ties

Bharat Innovates 2026 aims to identify, mentor, and spotlight promising technology ventures from India's higher educational institutions and centrally funded technical institutes, connecting them with a global audience of investors, policymakers, industry leaders, research institutions, and technology partners. This comes amid a broader push by the Indian government to internationalise its deep-tech ecosystem and position IITs as global innovation hubs. The showcase is expected to open new avenues for international collaborations, technology partnerships, and startup growth for participating institutes.