**Executive Summary**
The document summarizes the Sonipat Startup Summit 4.0, where Union Minister of State Raksha Khadse emphasized the importance of deep-tech, innovation, and youth-led industrial acceleration. The Summit, held at IIT Delhi Technopark, reaffirmed the government's commitment to innovation-led growth and youth-driven industrial transformation, highlighting opportunities emerging from Sports Goods Manufacturing provisions in Union Budget 2026. The event took place on February 13, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Summit Overview:**
* The Sonipat Startup Summit 4.0, themed “Industry Acceleration Edition,” gathered startups, MSMEs, researchers, corporates, and government stakeholders.
* The Summit aimed to fast-track technology-based enterprise development in alignment with the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal.
* **Government Initiatives & Support:**
* Smt. Khadse highlighted initiatives like Startup India, Digital India, Make in India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat for building a self-reliant and innovation-driven economy.
* Government initiatives such as Atal Innovation Mission under NITI Aayog and Startup India offer funding support up to ₹50 lakh, incubation facilities, mentorship, and market linkages.
* The Union Budget 2026 has strengthened support for research and development, deep-tech innovation, semiconductor manufacturing, expanded credit guarantees for startups and MSMEs, and green growth initiatives.
* **Focus Areas & Opportunities:**
* The Summit serves as a launchpad for startups in robotics, AI, semiconductors, green energy, advanced manufacturing, defense technology, and agri-technology.
* Emphasis on strengthening startups in Tier II and Tier III regions within the Haryana NCR industrial corridor.
* Growing convergence of sports science and manufacturing innovation, including sports analytics, wearable technology, biomechanics, recovery science, and AI-driven performance monitoring.
* **Summit Structure & Collaboration:**
* The Summit demonstrated a model of public-private collaboration supported by incubation and technology transfer institutions.
* The Summit offers guidance on intellectual property, funding pathways, regulatory frameworks, and product-market alignment.
* **Acknowledgements:**
* MoS Khadse expressed appreciation for Shri Alok Pandey, CEO, AIC IIT Delhi, for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
* **Attendees**
* The event was attended by many people, including Shri Ashok Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Sports University of Haryana, and Dr. Bipin Kumar, Associate Professor, IIT Delhi, Shri T. K. Sundaramurthy, Former Mission Director, ISRO.
**Impact Analysis**
**Startups, MSMEs, Researchers, Corporates and Government Stakeholders**
* **Impact:** Will gain a common platform to fast-track technology-based enterprise development.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the Summit to explore collaboration opportunities, funding pathways, and market access.
**Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Students, and Industry Leaders**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to engage with the latest developments and innovations in deep-tech and industrial acceleration, plus gain insights into government support and emerging opportunities.
* **Action Required:** Attend the Summit to network, learn, and potentially collaborate on new ventures.
**Young Entrepreneurs**
* **Impact:** Receive guidance on intellectual property, funding pathways, regulatory frameworks, and product-market alignment.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the resources and guidance offered at the Summit to develop and scale their businesses.
**Startups in Tier II and Tier III Regions**
* **Impact:** Increased focus and support for strengthening their presence in the Haryana NCR industrial corridor.
* **Action Required:** Leverage the Summit to connect with national and global markets, and access resources tailored to their specific needs.
Key Entities Referenced
Sonipat Startup Summit 4.0: Summit focused on deep-tech, innovation, and youth-led industrial acceleration.
Union Budget 2026: Budget mentioned for its sports goods manufacturing provisions and support for research and development.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports: The ministry responsible for the event and initiatives highlighted.
Startup India: Government initiative aimed at fostering startups and innovation.
NITI Aayog: Government think tank, associated with the Atal Innovation Mission.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Union MoS Raksha Khadse Attends Sonipat
Startup Summit 4.0; Highlights Importance of
Deep-Tech, Innovation and Youth-Led Industrial
Acceleration
Smt. Khadse highlights opportunities emerging from Sports
Goods Manufacturing provisions in Union Budget 2026
Posted On: 13 FEB 2026 3:12PM by PIB Delhi
Smt. Raksha Khadse, Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, attended the Sonipat Startup Summit
4.0 at the IIT Delhi Technopark, reaffirming the Government of India’s commitment to innovation-led
growth and youth-driven industrial transformation.
Addressing innovators, entrepreneurs, students and industry leaders, Smt. Khadse stated that India, as the
world’s fastest-growing economy, is entering a defining deep-tech phase driven by research, capital
investment and global scalability. The Summit, themed “Industry Acceleration Edition,” brought together
startups, MSMEs, researchers, corporates and government stakeholders on a common platform to fast-
track technology-based enterprise development.
Smt. Khadse emphasized that the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, through initiatives such as
Startup India, Digital India, Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, is creating a strong foundation for a
self-reliant and innovation-driven economy aligned with the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.She noted that the Summit serves as a launchpad for startups in emerging sectors including robotics,
artificial intelligence, semiconductors, green energy, advanced manufacturing, defence technology and
agri-technology. Special emphasis was placed on strengthening startups in Tier II and Tier III regions
across the Haryana NCR industrial corridor, enabling regional entrepreneurship to connect with national
and global markets.
Highlighting the Government’s enabling ecosystem, Smt. Khadse said that initiatives such as the Atal
Innovation Mission under NITI Aayog, along with Startup India and public-private acceleration platforms,
are providing funding support of up to ₹50 lakh, incubation facilities, mentorship and market linkages.
She added that the Union Budget 2026 has further strengthened support for research and development,
deep-tech innovation, semiconductor manufacturing, expanded credit guarantees for startups and MSMEs,
and green growth initiatives.
The Summit, supported by leading incubation and technology transfer institutions and global companies,
demonstrated a strong model of public-private collaboration. It offers young entrepreneurs guidance on
intellectual property, funding pathways, regulatory frameworks and product-market alignment.
Smt. Khadse also highlighted the growing convergence of sports science and manufacturing innovation,
noting that fields such as sports analytics, wearable technology, biomechanics, recovery science and AI-
driven performance monitoring are opening new avenues for sports-focused startups in India.Reaffirming the Government’s commitment to youth empowerment, Smt. Khadse said that India’s young
innovators are not merely building startups but strengthening industrial capacity, enhancing technological
independence and contributing directly to the vision of a developed India.
The event was attended by Shri Ashok Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Sports University of Haryana; Dr. Bipin
Kumar, Associate Professor, IIT Delhi; Shri T. K. Sundaramurthy, Former Mission Director, ISRO; Shri
Shobhit Mathur, Vice-Chancellor, Rishihood University; Prof. Samuel Raj, Registrar & Director (C4D),
SRM University; Prof. Ambika Prasad Shah, IIT Jammu; Shri Rakesh Chhabra, President, Rai Industry
Association; and Shri Nalin Kohli, FITT Governing Council, along with startup founders, researchers,
students and industry representatives.
MoS Khadse also expressed her appreciation for the role of Shri Alok Pandey, CEO, AIC IIT Delhi, whose
leadership and commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship played a significant role in the
successful conduct of the Summit.The Sonipat Startup Summit 4.0 stands as a reflection of India’s rapidly evolving innovation ecosystem
and its ambition to scale globally through the creativity, energy and enterprise of its youth.
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Ayushman Kumar
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