New Delhi. ; The fourth edition of IInvenTiv 2026, the flagship R&D fair of the Ministry of Education, concluded successfully at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, marking a significant milestone in strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem and industry–academia collaboration.
Jointly organized by leading institutions including IIT Kharagpur, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, IIT Bhubaneswar, and IIT Patna, the two-day event brought together academia, startups, venture capitalists, policymakers, and industry leaders under one platform.
Record Participation & Innovation Showcase
IInvenTiv 2026 recorded its highest-ever participation, featuring:
- 190 innovations and startups
- 150 institutional innovations (110 from IITs, 23 from NITs, others from IISER and institutions)
- 45+ technology startups
- 55+ startup founders & 200+ student innovators
- 20+ venture capital firms
- 60+ industry leaders & 100+ executives
- 1000+ delegates and 500+ general visitors
The event witnessed participation from 17 top institutional leaders, including Directors from 14 IITs, along with representatives from NIT, IIEST, and CSIR.
Major Highlights: MoUs & Funding Boost
A key highlight of the event was the signing of multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and strong funding support:
- 4 MoUs worth ₹10 crore under the TEXMiN initiative
- Additional MoUs worth ₹15 crore with IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
- Startup funding of ₹16.5 crore, marking the first-ever on-the-spot funding at IInvenTiv
- 71 startups participated in VC matchmaking, with 15 shortlisted for further funding
Strategic collaborations were signed with leading organizations including:
- NTPC Mining Limited
- Agilent Technologies India Pvt. Ltd.
- Anton Paar India Pvt. Ltd.
- Tecknotrove Systems India Pvt. Ltd.
Additional MoUs were signed with companies like Simon India, Kaynes Semicon, Netweb, TechBond, and Hycon, further strengthening emerging technology collaborations.
Focus on Research, Innovation & Emerging Technologies
The event began with a high-level roundtable on Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI), focusing on scaling innovation in strategic sectors such as:
- Semiconductors
- Artificial Intelligence
- Healthcare
- Material Sciences
- Earth Sciences
Several plenary sessions, startup pitching events, and VC matchmaking sessions enabled meaningful engagement between innovators and investors.
Dignitaries & Leadership Insights
The event was inaugurated by Santosh Kumar Gangwar, who highlighted the importance of innovation-driven growth.
Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, emphasized that the event reflects the growing maturity of India’s innovation ecosystem and its role in solving real-world challenges.
Parthasarathi Das, Dean (R&D), noted that IInvenTiv has become a vital platform for transforming research into scalable enterprises.
Ejaz Ahmad, Organising Secretary, highlighted strong engagement in startup pitching, technology demonstrations, and investor interactions.
Technology Demonstrations & Industry Engagement
The event featured:
- Technology demonstration zones
- Startup pitching sessions
- One-on-one industry interactions
Participants also explored advanced facilities such as:
- 3D Mine Experience Centre
- Underground mining sites
- Geological museum
- Seismological observatory
These immersive experiences showcased India’s cutting-edge research infrastructure.
Click Here for More Latest News