IIM Bangalore’s startup and entrepreneurship centre, NSRCEL, has spent over a decade refining its incubation model, evolving from a mentor‑led hub into a more structured engine for early‑stage innovation. At the same time, India’s deeptech ecosystem is gaining momentum, with venture capital commitments expected to deepen in 2026 as investors increasingly back science‑driven startups.
A low‑cost early warning system developed by IIT Mandi’s Professor Kala Venkata Uday can predict landslides up to three hours in advance with over 90% accuracy. Installed across 60 sites in Himachal Pradesh, the AI‑powered device uses sensors and machine learning to detect subtle slope movements and trigger timely alerts for at‑risk communities.
Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, in collaboration with the Physical Research Laboratory, have uncovered new insights into the Moon’s deep interior by studying ancient iron‑ and titanium‑rich rocks believed to be 4.3–4.4 billion years old. The work, grounded in high‑pressure laboratory experiments, not only helps solve a long‑standing lunar puzzle but also stands to inform the design and scientific goals of India’s upcoming Chandrayaan‑4 sample‑return mission.
Google has announced an $8 million funding package for four government‑backed AI Centers of Excellence in India, along with several new collaborations in healthcare, agriculture, and Indic‑language technologies. The moves, unveiled at Google’s “Lab to Impact” dialogue on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, support the national vision to “Make AI in India and Make AI work for India.”
Researchers at IIT Guwahati have created a breakthrough MXene‑based material that can simultaneously produce hydrogen fuel and purify seawater, addressing two critical global challenges—clean energy scarcity and lack of safe drinking water. The innovation marks a major advance in sustainable materials for a green hydrogen economy and solar‑powered desalination.
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP) will launch a new research and development base at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) in April 2026, becoming its second overseas R&D hub after the Netherlands. The center will focus on joint research in mobility—especially wireless power systems for electric vehicles—and in medical healthcare, including advanced synthesis routes for active pharmaceutical ingredients
IIT Jodhpur, in collaboration with AIIMS Jodhpur, is developing flexible, low‑power wearable semiconductor patches that can enable early detection of serious diseases—including cancer—and continuous health monitoring. The soft, skin‑conforming sensors aim to bring non‑invasive, real‑time diagnostics to clinics, rural areas, and even defence app
The Delhi government has entered a six‑month collaboration with IIT Madras to study whether photocatalytic “smog‑eating” coatings on roads, pavements, and other city infrastructure can meaningfully reduce key air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The project, led by Professor Somnath C Roy of IIT Madras, will begin with lab‑based smog simulations followed by field trials in Delhi, aiming to assess whether such coatings can become a scalable, science‑driven tool in the Capital’s fight against air pollution.
Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Delhi, has secured a patent for a next‑generation smart radio system based on Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS), paving the way for robust 6G‑ready wireless connectivity in complex urban and indoor environments.
The Human Capital Working Group at IIT Guwahati advances India’s AI‑ready workforce agenda, focusing on inclusive education, gender‑responsive skilling, and human‑centric AI transitions ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
