BRICS Bharat Innovates (BBI) Exposition brought 37 Indian deep-tech startups to New Delhi as India used its 2026 BRICS Chairship to connect domestic technology ventures with investors and businesses from member countries.
This event was held on September 11 and 12 at Bharat Mandapam alongside the 18th BRICS Summit. Organised by the Ministry of Education in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, the event focused on technologies developed by Indian startups and ventures emerging from the higher education and research ecosystem.
Participating startups had been selected from a larger group that featured at the first Bharat Innovates exposition in Nice, France, earlier this year. The New Delhi event was designed to provide these companies with opportunities for business partnerships, investment discussions and access to overseas markets.
Deep-Tech Startups
The 37 ventures represented the selected group from 120 startups and ventures that participated in the maiden Bharat Innovates event in France. Their presence in New Delhi gave them another platform to present products and technologies to international investors, corporate leaders and industry representatives.
Exposition was held alongside the BRICS Business Forum, creating an opportunity for participating startups to hold business-to-business discussions with delegates from BRICS countries. The programme included structured matchmaking aimed at turning technology demonstrations into commercial discussions.
This initiative fitted into the broader BRICS Education Track priority of strengthening research, innovation and startup ecosystems. It also reflected the theme of India 2026 BRICS Chairship, which focused on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
Direct Global Stage
For the participating companies, the event was not limited to showcasing products. The organisers looked to create direct links with investors, corporations, universities, research organisations and other institutions operating across BRICS markets.
Business groups including FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM supported the matchmaking process. The engagements were expected to cover technology partnerships, investment, market access and other commercial arrangements that could help Indian deep-tech ventures expand outside the domestic market.
Bharat Innovates itself was positioned as a national programme designed to connect innovation emerging from Indian higher education institutions with global companies, investors, incubators, universities, research institutions and governments.
New Delhi Exposition
The New Delhi exposition followed the first Bharat Innovates event held in Nice, France, from June 14 to 16 during the India-France Year of Innovation 2026. That event featured 120 Indian deep-tech startups and ventures across 13 thematic areas.
The Nice exposition also brought together 15 participating institutions, including IITs, IISc, BIRAC and iDEX. More than 2,000 participants from 29 countries attended, while the organisers reported more than 30 collaboration MoUs and partnerships.
Indian startups and ventures involved in the French edition also received funding commitments of $254.5 million after 1,350 business-to-business meetings. The New Delhi event therefore extended a programme that was already being used to build international commercial and technology connections.
What is BRICS
BRICS began as BRIC, a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India and China. The first BRIC summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009, after the grouping had taken shape through meetings involving the four countries. South Africa joined in 2011, changing the name to BRICS. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE became full members in January 2024, while Indonesia joined in January 2025.
India held the BRICS Chairship in 2026, with the 18th BRICS Summit hosted in New Delhi in September. India had earlier hosted the BRICS Summit in New Delhi in 2012 and held the chairship in 2021, when the summit was conducted virtually.
BRICS does not have a permanent headquarters or a fixed secretariat like some international organisations. Its chairship rotates among member countries, while cooperation takes place through summits, ministerial meetings and working groups. The New Development Bank, which was created by BRICS, is headquartered in Shanghai, but it is a separate institution from the BRICS grouping itself.
India Pushes Innovation
The BBI Exposition also formed part of wider efforts under the BRICS Education Track. India hosted BRICS education meetings in Bhubaneswar in August, covering areas such as early childhood education, skills, research and innovation, recognition of qualifications and academic capacity building.
For these 37 startups at Bharat Mandapam, immediate focus remained commercial and technology engagement. By bringing investors and business leaders from BRICS countries closer to Indian deep-tech ventures, the exposition sought to move innovation from institutional labs and startup programmes towards international partnerships and markets
