RISE Conclave 2026, to drive innovation and entrepreneurship drive growth for Viksit Bharat 2047, concluded in Bengaluru with 8 panel sessions, 100 CSIR startups at Expo, MoUs with 5 institutions, and ministers emphasizing startups solving Bharat-scale problems
RISE Conclave 2026 Reaffirms Research-Industry-Startup Collaboration
The two-day Research–Industry–Startup–Entrepreneurship (RISE) Conclave 2026 concluded today at the V M Ghatge Convention Centre, bringing together key stakeholders from academia, research institutions, industry, MSMEs, and the start-up ecosystem. The Conclave reaffirmed its commitment to co-create solutions aligned with India’s Whole-of-Science and Innovation by linking science, innovation, industry, start-ups, academia, and policy. This integration will enable strategic partnerships, investment pathways, and job-linked incubation.
The event successfully connected diverse stakeholders who previously operated in isolation, creating a unified platform for collaborative problem-solving. Participants also established concrete action plans for translating research into commercial applications, ensuring that scientific discoveries benefit society and drive economic growth.
Three Major Themes Address Aerospace, AI, and Agri-Food Nexus
The three major themes of the RISE Conclave Bengaluru edition were Aerospace Technologies for Growth, AI for Everyone – Navigating Technology, Society & Ethics, and AGRI-FOOD Nexus 2026 – Architecting the Lab-to-Market Pipeline. Eight panel sessions featuring top industries, start-ups, and MSMEs in aerospace, data science & food technology explored these themes.
Twenty-five Keynote and Panel Speakers from Industry, Academia, and Research participated, representing organizations including Bosch, TASL, L&T, Schneider, Venture Capitalists, Start-ups, IBM, Licious, ISRO, GKVK-UAS, IIM-Bangalore, IIM-Nagpur, and IIT-Dharwad. These sessions delved into the mechanisms, benefits, and challenges of such partnerships, with a particular focus on their role in fostering innovation.
Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh Inaugurates Conclave and Start-up Expo
The Conclave was inaugurated on June 13, 2026, by the Hon’ble Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, who underscored the pivotal role of start-ups in driving innovation and strengthening India’s research–industry ecosystem. The Hon’ble Minister also inaugurated the Start-up Expo and interacted with participating entrepreneurs.
Dr. Singh emphasized that India’s start-up ecosystem is no longer just about building the next Unicorn. It is now about solving real Bharat-scale problems, building globally competitive technology, and creating sustainable businesses with long-term impact. Over the last decade, India moved from a “start-up movement” to a full-fledged innovation economy.
Founders Emerging from Tier-2 and Tier-3 Cities
Today, founders are emerging not only from Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi, but also from Surat, Jaipur, Indore, Kochi, Lucknow, and hundreds of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. This geographic diversification demonstrates that innovation is spreading across India, not concentrated in metropolitan hubs. Regional entrepreneurs bring local insights and address community-specific challenges, creating solutions with broader applicability.
The Conclave highlighted success stories from Tier-2 cities, proving that geographical location no longer limits entrepreneurial potential. Access to quality education, digital infrastructure, and government support also enables entrepreneurs anywhere in India to build competitive enterprises.
Start-up Expo Features 100 CSIR Laboratory-Associated Startups
A major highlight of the Conclave was the Start-up Expo, which featured around 100 start-ups associated with technologies developed by CSIR laboratories including CSIR-NAL, CSIR-CFTRI, and CSIR-4PI. The Expo showcased cutting-edge innovations across aerospace, data science & AI, and food technology, demonstrating the growing impact of CSIR’s technology transfer and commercialization efforts.
Attendees witnessed practical applications of laboratory research, from aerospace components to AI-powered diagnostic tools to food preservation technologies. The Expo demonstrated that CSIR laboratories successfully translate scientific discoveries into market-ready products, creating economic value while addressing societal needs.
MoUs Signed for Joint R&D and Entrepreneurship Promotion
The Conclave highlights included MoUs with T IIT-Dharwad, IITM-Chennai, Sathya Sai University, NIVEDI-ICAR Bangalore, and IIM-Nagpur for joint R&D activities, promoting entrepreneurship & start-ups. These agreements also establish formal collaboration frameworks enabling resource sharing, joint research projects, and student exchange programs.
The Conclave also featured the handing over of a Wankel engine to the start-up M/s Trident Tech Engineering, Chennai, and a collaboration between CSIR-CFTRI and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam for quality control & quality assurance of food served by TTD. These specific initiatives demonstrate tangible outcomes from the Conclave’s networking and partnership activities.
Minister Pralhad Joshi Emphasizes Innovation for Viksit Bharat 2047
The Valedictory Session was attended by dignitaries Shri. Pralhad Joshi, Hon’ble Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman of ISRO, Dr. Abhay A. Pashilkar, Director CSIR-NAL, Dr. Giridhar Parvatam, Director CSIR-CFTRI, and Dr. G. K. Patra, Director CSIR-4PI.
Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble Minister Shri. Pralhad Joshi said that India is witnessing a transformative phase driven by scientific advancements, technological innovation, and the aspirations of its young population. He also noted that the country’s growing scale and developmental ambitions require solutions designed and developed within India to address national priorities effectively.
India Transitions from Food Security Concerns to Innovation Hub
Highlighting India’s progress from concerns of food security in earlier decades to becoming an emerging manufacturing and innovation hub, the Minister emphasized the importance of strengthening research and development, expanding manufacturing capabilities, and fostering a culture of innovation. He stated that India’s demographic dividend presents a significant opportunity to accelerate economic growth and technological leadership.
Shri. Joshi urged young innovators and start-up founders to embrace risk-taking and develop solutions for societal and industrial challenges. He also observed that sustained policy support, infrastructure development, and innovation-focused initiatives have created a conducive ecosystem for entrepreneurship and technology-driven enterprises. He underscored that the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 can be realized through the collective efforts of researchers, innovators, industry, and academia.
The successful conclusion of RISE Conclave 2026 Bengaluru also focused on aligning scientific research with commercial applications, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, start-ups, and researchers to support India’s vision for Viksit Bharat 2047 through innovation and entrepreneurship-driven growth.
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