**Executive Summary**
Union Minister for Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated IIT Madras’ first-ever Technology Summit on May 5, 2026, in New Delhi to foster industry-academia-government collaboration. The event focused on transitioning India's innovation ecosystem from theoretical research metrics to real-world societal impact to support the "Viksit Bharat" 2047 mission. Key highlights include the announcement of strategic research partnerships with major industry players and a call for increased private sector investment in research and development.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Strategic Objectives and Vision**
* **Theme:** The summit operated under the theme “From IITM. For Bharat. Building Together,” aiming to design and deploy technologies for national development.
* **Paradigm Shift:** The Ministry called for a shift in measuring innovation progress through deployable products and societal solutions rather than just citations, patents, and IPOs.
* **Global Positioning:** The initiative seeks to make India’s innovation ecosystem globally interoperable and institutionally aligned to serve as a development model for the Global South by 2047.
**Funding and Investment Framework**
* **Government Allocation:** A ₹1 lakh crore allocation has been designated for Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) to scale research capacity.
* **Investment Targets:** While the government currently provides 70% of research investment, the Minister proposed a long-term goal of a 50:50 partnership between the public sector and industry.
**Industry Partnerships and Research Centres**
* **New Research Centres:** IIT Madras announced strategic partnerships with NTPC Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and HSBC to establish dedicated centres for healthcare technologies and sustainability.
* **Collaborative Initiatives:** The "Bharat Innovates" program was highlighted as a platform to bring Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs) together for deep-tech innovation.
**Technological Showcases**
* **Centres of Excellence:** An exhibition featured 15 Centres of Excellence established under the Institute of Eminence (IoE) framework.
* **Focus Areas:** Showcased technologies addressed critical challenges in semiconductors, sovereign AI (such as Bodhan AI), cardiovascular research, robotic surgery, and advanced materials.
**Impact Analysis**
**Academic and Research Institutions (IITs, HEIs, CFTIs)**
**Impact**
Institutions are being tasked with moving beyond academic metrics toward deep-tech research that results in scalable, deployable products.
**Action Required**
Align research foundations with the "Institute of Eminence" framework and participate in collaborative platforms like "Bharat Innovates" to advance deep-tech at scale.
**Industry Players (NTPC, BPCL, HSBC, etc.)**
**Impact**
Industry is expected to take a more proactive role in funding and directing research, moving toward a balanced 50% investment share.
**Action Required**
Establish dedicated research centres, provide directional guidance to academic research, and invest in the translation of knowledge into measurable market outcomes.
**Government and Public Sector**
**Impact**
The government acts as a primary catalyst through significant capital allocation and the creation of collaborative frameworks.
**Action Required**
Facilitate the "Viksit Bharat" mission by ensuring the innovation ecosystem is robust, globally interoperable, and supportive of industry-academia-government partnerships.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras: The primary academic institution leading the research-driven innovation ecosystem and hosting the summit to advance India's deep-tech capabilities.
Viksit Bharat: The national vision and mission for a developed India by 2047, which serves as the overarching goal for the reported innovation and research initiatives.
IIT Madras Technology Summit: The inaugural forum aimed at building a collaborative framework for industry-academia-government partnerships to design and deploy technologies.
Institute of Eminence (IoE) framework: The policy framework under which 15 Centres of Excellence were established at IIT Madras to address critical societal challenges.
Bharat Innovates: A collaborative initiative focused on bringing together Higher Education Institutions and Centrally Funded Technical Institutions to advance global deep-tech innovation.
Ministry of Education
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates IIT
Madras’ technology summit in Delhi, bringing
together industry, academia, and government for
nation-building
From research metrics to real-world impact, Shri Dharmendra
Pradhan calls for a paradigm shift in India’s innovation
ecosystem
Posted On: 05 MAY 2026 6:01PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, inaugurated IIT Madras’ first-ever Technology
Summit today in New Delhi at Bharat Mandapam. Union Minister of State for Education and Minister of
State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge), Shri Jayant Chaudhary, was the
Guest of Honour. The summit, inaugurated under the theme “From IITM. For Bharat. Building Together”,
aimed to build a collaborative framework for industry-academia-government partnerships to design,
develop, and deploy technologies that will shape India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat.
Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education; Dr. Vineet Joshi,
Secretary, Higher Education, and leadership teams from NTPC, BPCL and HSBC were also present on the
occasion.Speaking on the occasion, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said that Indian Institute of Technology Madras
continues to lead a research-driven, society-linked innovation ecosystem, strengthening collaboration
between academia, industry, and public purpose, while advancing India’s capabilities in deep-tech and
frontier research.
He highlighted that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, there remains a
strong commitment to building a new and enabling ecosystem for research and innovation in the country.
The Government’s ₹1 lakh crore allocation for Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) clearly
indicates the intent to significantly scale research capacity and ensure stronger translation of knowledge
into innovation and measurable outcomes, he added. He further observed that, at present, around 70% of
research investment comes from the Government, reflecting strong public commitment. However, he
emphasized that the long-term direction should move towards a more balanced 50:50 partnership between
the public sector and industry to accelerate innovation and scale impact. Continuing his address, Shri
Pradhan said that the time had come to move beyond measuring progress only through citations, patents,
and IPOs, adding that the real benchmark of a mature innovation system lies in its ability to convert
research into deployable products, scalable technologies, and meaningful societal solutions.
He further stated that “Bharat building” is not merely an objective but a national mission. He observed
that by 2047, a significant share of the global population, particularly the Global South, would look
towards the Indian development model, thereby placing greater responsibility on India’s research and
education institutions. In this context, he emphasized that it is imperative for the country’s innovation
ecosystem to be not only robust but also globally interoperable and institutionally well-aligned.
Highlighting the importance of collaborative initiatives, he noted that programmes such as Bharat
Innovates assume significance in bringing together Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Centrally
Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs) on a global platform to advance deep-tech innovation at scale. The
Minister added that the summit at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras serves as a valuable prelude
to that larger collective endeavour.In line with its commitment to translating research and innovation into impactful solutions for nation-
building, Indian Institute of Technology Madras announced strategic partnerships with leading industry
players NTPC Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, and HSBC to establish dedicated research
centres focused on advancing healthcare technologies and promoting a sustainable future. These centres
were inaugurated by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan.
Shri Jayant Chaudhary, while addressing the inaugural session of the IIT Madras Technology Summit
2026, emphasised the pivotal role of the IIT ecosystem in catalysing research, strengthening innovation
funding, and creating robust pathways for deep technology development in India. He noted that the
summit, under the theme “From IITM for Bharat – Growing Together”, demonstrates the powerful
confluence of academia, industry, and government through impactful advancements ranging from
cardiovascular research and robotic surgery to semiconductor ecosystems and sovereign AI initiatives such
as Bodhan AI. He further highlighted that the Indian Institute of Technology Madras exemplifies how
world-class innovation can be rooted in Indian institutions, adding that such collaborative platforms
ensure research finds purpose while industry provides direction, collectively advancing the vision of Viksit
Bharat 2047.
An exhibition was held at the Summit, featuring stalls showcasing research from the 15 Centres of
Excellence established by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras under the Institute of Eminence (IoE)
framework. The exhibits showcased cutting-edge technologies that address critical societal challenges
across healthcare, sustainability, semiconductors, energy, and advanced materials.Inaugurated the Technology Summit of @iitmadras at Bharat Mandapam, New
Delhi, in the presence of Hon’ble Minister of Skills Development &
Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education Shri @jayantrld ji, Prof. V.
Kamakoti ji Director, IIT Madras, Shri Sanjay Singh ji… pic.twitter.com/ybgesGo07
q
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) May 5, 2026
The time has come to move beyond measuring progress only through citations,
patents and IPOs. The real benchmark of a mature innovation system lies in its
ability to convert research into deployable products, scalable technologies and
meaningful societal solutions.
“Bharat… pic.twitter.com/SAzZuuDJlG
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) May 5, 2026
The exhibition showcase at IIT Madras Tech Summit 2026 emerges as a
compelling window into India’s evolving innovation landscape.
They draw on the research foundation built by the 15 Centres of Excellence
established by @iitmadras under the Institute of Eminence (IoE) framework… pic.t
witter.com/1z2ThUOVzW
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) May 5, 2026*****
AK
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