Dharmendra Pradhan Opens IIT Madras Tech Summit in Delhi

From research metrics to real-world impact, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan calls for a paradigm shift in India’s innovation ecosystem

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.