IIT Madras, IITM Global Sign Strategic Pacts at Bharat Innovates 2026, Eye US$100 Million Value Creation
Chennai, June 16 (TNT): The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and IITM Global have forged a series of strategic international partnerships at Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice, France, with agreements expected to generate nearly US$100 million in value creation and strengthen India’s position in the global deep-tech ecosystem.
The first day of the event concluded with the exchange of seven commercial Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between Indian deep-tech startups and international partners, primarily from France, along with two institutional agreements aimed at accelerating innovation, investment and market access, the Institue said in a release here on Tuesday.
According to IIT Madras, the agreements represent a significant step forward in fostering cross-border collaboration and commercializing Indian deep-tech innovations on a global scale.
The agreements were exchangted during the Bharat Innovates 2026, held outside India, in France from June 14 to 16.
Speaking on the occasion, V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, described Bharat Innovates 2026 as a watershed moment for Indian deep-tech innovation, stating that the agreements were commercially driven, actionable and backed by substantial financial commitments.
Among the key startup partnerships announced were collaborations involving Agnikul Cosmos with ICEYE of Finland and Safran of France, Detect Technologies with TotalEnergies, TuTr Hyperloop with thyssenkrupp, and iElectron Technologies with ALTEN.
In addition, the Indian Angel Network announced a potential investment in The ePlane Company.
Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research) at IIT Madras, Manu Santhanam, said the expected value creation reflected years of focused deep-tech incubation and validated the institution’s innovation-driven approach.
The event also witnessed the signing of two institutional MOUs.
One agreement between IITM Global and Agna Capital aims to establish the Bharat Innovates Fund to support high-potential deep-tech ventures while another partnership with SouthwestX seeks to facilitate Indian startups’ entry and expansion into the German and French markets.
The institutional agreements were exchanged in the presence of Union  Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, and the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Ajay Sood,  underscoring the government’s support for globally connected innovation ecosystems.
IIT Madras also showcased a range of technologies developed by its research groups and startup ecosystem, including advancements in Hyperloop transportation, 5G and 6G communications, port automation, lab-grown diamond technologies and indigenous artificial intelligence systems.
IITM Global Chief Executive Officer and Director Thirumalai Madhavnarayan said the strong response from European stakeholders highlighted the growing recognition of the IIT Madras innovation ecosystem as a trusted partner in building globally scalable deep-tech enterprises.
The event attracted participation from industry leaders, investors, academic institutions and government representatives from across the European Union, opening avenues for future collaborations in research, innovation, entrepreneurship and market expansion.
TNT KS
