On March 21 and 22, 2026, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay will transform into the epicenter of India’s deep-tech ambitions. The institute is set to host the Bharat Innovates 2026 Deep-Tech Pre-Summit, a landmark two-day event that will bring together 137 of the most promising deep-tech startups from across the country, along with investors, policymakers, and academic leaders . This is not just another startup event. It is the culmination of a rigorous, multi-stage national selection process that began with over 3,000 applications, narrowed down through theme-specific bootcamps and a National Basecamp at IIT Gandhinagar . The startups chosen represent the very best of India’s research-backed innovation, spanning 13 critical technology themes .

The latest and most ambitious step in this journey is the announcement of the U-Hub initiative. As part of the 2026–27 state budget, the Uttar Pradesh government has committed ₹100 crore to establish two state-of-the-art innovation centres—one in Lucknow and another in Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida) . These hubs are designed to function as comprehensive support systems for startups, providing infrastructure, mentorship, research assistance, and investor access to entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey, from early ideation to scaling operations .