Vigyan TECH 2026: India’s Startup Ecosystem Surges Past Two Lakh Ventures

The Minister said this growth reflects the increasing role of innovation, entrepreneurship and scientific research in driving India’s economic transformation.

India's scientific and innovation ecosystem has undergone a historic transformation over the last decade, with the country emerging as one of the world's leading knowledge economies, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said while inaugurating Vigyan TECH 2026 on the occasion of National Technology Day in New Delhi.

Addressing scientists, innovators, policymakers, startup leaders and researchers at BRIC-NII, Dr. Singh declared that India is witnessing an unprecedented national push for science, technology and innovation, fundamentally reshaping the country's global standing in research, entrepreneurship and intellectual property creation.

The event, themed "Building India's Innovation Ecosystem for Viksit Bharat," brought together 14 Science and Technology Ministries and Departments on a unified platform for the first time to showcase collaborative national efforts in advancing India's technology ecosystem.

India's Startup Ecosystem Expands from 400 to Over 2 Lakh

Highlighting India's remarkable innovation growth trajectory, Dr. Jitendra Singh noted that the country's startup ecosystem has expanded dramatically from just 350–400 startups in 2014 to more than two lakh startups today, making India the third-largest startup ecosystem globally.

The Minister said this growth reflects the increasing role of innovation, entrepreneurship and scientific research in driving India's economic transformation.

Experts say India's startup boom has been fuelled by:

• Digital public infrastructure

• Expanding internet access

• Government innovation initiatives

• Venture capital growth

• Youth entrepreneurship

• Policy reforms supporting startups

India's startup ecosystem now spans sectors including:

• Artificial intelligence

• Deep technology

• Biotechnology

• Food processing

• Climate technology

• Fintech

• Space technology

• Health innovation

India Climbs Rapidly in Global Innovation Rankings

Dr. Singh also highlighted India's sharp improvement in global innovation indicators.

According to the Minister:

• India's Global Innovation Index ranking improved from 80th to 38th

• The country now ranks 6th globally in patent filings

• India files more than one lakh patents annually

• Over 55 percent of patent applications are now filed by Indian residents

The Minister said India has also emerged as one of the world's leading contributors to high-quality scientific publications and innovation-led research.

Observers say the rise in domestic patent filings reflects growing indigenous technological capabilities and increasing participation of Indian researchers, startups and institutions in intellectual property creation.

Vigyan TECH 2026 Brings Together 14 Ministries in Landmark Collaboration

Vigyan TECH 2026 marked the first occasion where 14 Science and Technology Ministries and Departments collaborated on a single national innovation platform.

The event featured:

• Technology exhibitions

• Indigenous innovation showcases

• Industry partnerships

• Technology transfer agreements

• Research collaborations

• Startup interactions

The programme also included the release of "TECH-संग्रह" (TECH Sangrah) — a comprehensive compendium of indigenous technologies developed by autonomous institutions under participating ministries.

Officials described the initiative as a major step toward fostering inter-ministerial convergence and accelerating innovation-led national development.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sends Special Message

A special message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi was delivered during the event by Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology.

The Prime Minister conveyed greetings on National Technology Day and praised the multi-ministerial collaboration aimed at strengthening India's innovation ecosystem.

The event was attended by several senior scientific and policy leaders, including:

• Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India

• Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology

• Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences

• Senior officials from DST, CSIR, ICMR, NITI Aayog and other scientific institutions

NIFTEM-Kundli Emerges as Major Innovation Contributor

One of the major highlights of Vigyan TECH 2026 was the strong participation of the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM-Kundli), an apex institution under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

Under the leadership of Dr. H. S. Oberoi, NIFTEM-K drew significant attention for its contributions to India's food processing ecosystem through advanced research and indigenous technologies.

23 NIFTEM Technologies Featured in National Innovation Compendium

Out of 293 technologies contributed by scientific organisations nationwide, 23 technologies developed by NIFTEM-K were included in the Vigyan Sangraha technology compendium released during the event.

The institute also successfully transferred three technologies to industry partners and startups, reflecting growing industry-academia collaboration in food processing innovation.

Key Technologies Transferred to Industry

1. Solar Hybrid Dryer Technologies

• Evacuated Tube Solar Hybrid Dryer

• Hybrid Greenhouse Solar Dryer

These technologies are designed to support sustainable and energy-efficient food processing systems using clean energy solutions.

2. Protein & Fiber Rich Granola Bar Technology

A nutrient-rich ready-to-eat formulation developed to address growing demand in the health and wellness food market.

3. Extruded Product Technologies

The technology package includes:

• Millet Puffs

• Dal Puffs

• Multigrain Puffs

• Sweet Potato Puffs

• Nachos

The initiative supports value addition for indigenous cereals and tubers while promoting healthier food alternatives.

Officials said these transfers demonstrate NIFTEM-K's mission of advancing industry-ready indigenous innovations for India's rapidly expanding food processing sector.

Advanced Food Safety and Health Technologies Draw Attention

NIFTEM-K also showcased ten technologies selected for exhibition during the event, including:

• Rapid detection methods for contaminants and adulterants in water, tea leaves and paneer

• Detection methods for calcium carbide-ripened fruits

• Gluten-free food products

• Honey and ghee powder technologies

• Probiotic kanji powder

• Vitamin D-enriched mushroom flour

• Healthy snack innovations

Rapid detection kits for adulterants and contaminants, along with probiotic food products, attracted strong interest from scientists, policymakers, research directors and visitors attending the exhibition.

"Whole-of-Government" Innovation Model Emerging

In his concluding remarks, Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood described Vigyan TECH 2026 as a landmark "whole-of-government" initiative.

He emphasized the growing importance of technological convergence across ministries and scientific institutions to tackle emerging national and global challenges related to:

• Healthcare

• Climate change

• Agriculture

• Food systems

• Sustainable development

• National competitiveness

India Positioning Science and Innovation at Core of Viksit Bharat Vision

The event concluded with a collective commitment to intensify scientific collaboration, accelerate innovation-driven growth and strengthen India's journey toward becoming a developed nation under the Viksit Bharat @ 2047 vision.

Officials say India's expanding innovation ecosystem increasingly reflects a broader national strategy focused on:

• Indigenous technology development

• Research commercialisation

• Startup-led growth

• Scientific self-reliance

• Global technological competitiveness

As India continues investing heavily in science, research and innovation infrastructure, initiatives such as Vigyan TECH 2026 are expected to play a major role in positioning the country as a global innovation and knowledge powerhouse.