Latest News

IInvenTiv 2026 Concludes at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, Showcasing India’s Growing Industry–Academia Innovation Ecosystem

IInvenTiv 2026 concludes at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad with record participation, ₹16.5 crore startup funding, and MoUs worth ₹25 crore, boosting industry-academia collaboration.

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