New Delhi, June 16 (IANS). Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and IITM Global exchanged seven commercial and two institutional Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) on the first day of ‘Bharat Innovates 2026’ held in Nice city, France. According to a statement, these agreements are expected to generate value creation of approximately $100 million.
The statement issued by IIT Madras said that the seven commercial MoUs connect Indian deep-tech startups with international partners, especially French companies and institutions. At the same time, two institutional agreements have been made with the aim of accelerating global market access, investment and innovation.
Professor V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “Bharat Innovates 2026 has proven to be a historic opportunity for the Indian deep-tech sector. The MOUs that have been exchanged are not just formal agreements, but commercially enforceable agreements with serious financial commitments behind them. India’s premier higher education institutions have proven that Indian innovation is ready to lead on the global stage.”
Professor Manu Santhanam, Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research), IIT Madras, said these partnerships are important steps towards translating scientific excellence into economic value across borders.
A strategic partnership has been established between IITM Global and Agna Capital under an MOU. Under this, ‘Bharat Innovates Fund’ will be created, the objective of which is to promote investment in deep-tech startups with high potential.
Additionally, the partnership between IITM Global and SouthwestX will help Indian startups reach and expand into large European markets like Germany and France.
Along with the partnership agreements, IIT Madras also showcased several new technologies and innovations developed by its research groups and startup ecosystem at the Bharat Innovates event.
These included hyperloop transportation technology, 5G and 6G communication systems, port automation, lab-developed diamond technology and indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems developed for better computing with less resources.
In addition to formal agreements, the event also attracted interest from various EU industry leaders, academic institutions, investors and government representatives.
According to the statement, this interest indicates that there is scope for further international collaboration with IIT Madras and IITM Global in the future in areas such as research, innovation, entrepreneurship, talent development and market expansion.
–IANS
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