FITT Forward 2026: India's Deep-Tech Future Begins

New Delhi, 10th September 2026

Can India develop artificial intelligence that serves 1.4 billion citizens while contributing to global innovation? Can the nation establish itself as a leader in space technology, semiconductor production, and medical innovation all within a single decade? These central questions formed the backdrop of FITT Forward's opening session today, presented by the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), housed at IIT Delhi. This two-day gathering, concluding on 11th September 2026, convened at the FITT-IIT Delhi facility in New Delhi. The inaugural day commenced with an in-depth discussion featuring sports icon and venture investor Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Puneet Gupta, exploring the transition from athletic achievement to business leadership.

"In sports, technology opens numerous doors. The lessons learned during my athletic career, particularly during my rehabilitation period, have deeply shaped my perspective. I stand before you today as an investor, not a cricketer. Technology's potential in the sports domain is immense, and that conviction motivated me to pursue this investment path. My appreciation goes to the organizing team." - 

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Cricket Icon and Investor

"FITT's mandate encompasses technology creation, intellectual property licensing, and startup development. Meanwhile, IIT Delhi is dedicated to fostering an environment where aspiring entrepreneurs can thrive. The institution equips innovators with essential infrastructure, tools, mentorship, and ecosystem support needed to convert concepts into tangible solutions and eventually into thriving enterprises." - 

Prof. Vivek V. Buwa, DDSP, IIT Delhi

"FITT Forward 2026 aims to elevate discourse from whether India possesses innovation capacity to whether it can develop, own, and expand technologies that will shape tomorrow's world. By assembling entrepreneurs, capital providers, corporate partners, and government officials in a single venue, we aspire to convert aspirations in domains like AI, semiconductor fabrication, space exploration, and life sciences into concrete collaborations, investments, and globally competitive enterprises." - 

Dr. Nikhil Agarwal

Building on Success from 2025

The previous year's event generated over twenty collaborative agreements and facilitated thirty-plus partnership discussions between founders and investors. The 2026 summit significantly broadens its scope. While the inaugural gathering emphasized mobility innovation, healthcare solutions, and sustainability technologies, this year's programming encompasses sovereign AI capabilities, semiconductor manufacturing, agricultural advancement, space technology innovations, bioscience development, and sports-focused technology applications. The event poses a more fundamental inquiry about each sector: beyond India's capacity for innovation, can the nation secure ownership of pivotal technologies for the coming decade?

Day One Programming Highlights

The opening discussion titled 'Will India Create AI for its Population and Global Markets?' featured Pradeep Gupta from CyberMedia Group steering conversations with Prof. Mausam (Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Delhi), Kavita Bhatia (Scientist G, AI and Emerging Technologies Division, MeitY), and Sandeep Aurora (Public Policy and Government Relations, Microsoft India and South Asia). The focus centered on transitioning India's AI initiatives from policy frameworks to internationally competitive companies.

Immediately following, another discussion explored investment mechanisms for emerging technologies. S.P. Singh (RDI Fund), Praveen Ganapathy (Dani Family Office), Kunal Bhanot (DS Group Family Office), and Deepak Sharma (India Accelerator) discussed the nature of long-term venture funding for cutting-edge technology development in India, with Anagh Singh (Singularity AMC) facilitating.

The evening sessions transitioned to industrial and infrastructure technologies. 'Can India Manufacture the Technologies Powering Global Industries?' brought together Marmik Bhatt (Monk9 Tech), Priya S. Kapur (Sona Comstar), Taranjit Kukal (Cadence Design Systems), Dr. Shailendra Singh (Maruti Suzuki), and Manu Iyer (BlueHills Capital) to examine prospects in advanced production and chip manufacturing, guided by Kiran Deshpande (former TechM CEO) and introductory remarks by Prof. Sunil Jha (IIT Delhi).

An agricultural technology panel, 'Agriculture: From Production to Prosperity,' assembled Dev P. Goel (Madhu Group and ConQuerent), Krishanu Nandan Gupta (KRAMP India), Lalit Kumar (Beri Udyog Pvt. Ltd./Fieldking), Prof. B.R. Kamboj (Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University), and Prof. Arun Mohan Sherry (IIM Shillong) to discuss strategies for Indian farming to expand internationally beyond subsistence operations. Himanshu Rattan (KPMG India) moderated.

A comprehensive keynote presentation by Dr. Anita Gupta (former Scientist G, Department of Science and Technology) examined India's advancement from government-sponsored scientific research toward commercial worldwide expansion.

The day's closing sessions featured accomplished entrepreneurs sharing their experiences. In 'From Vision to Market Leader: Creating a Unicorn,' Ankit Agrawal (InsuranceDekho), Kapil Bharti (Delhivery), and Sandeep Nailwal (Polygon) recounted their journeys from initial concepts to significant scale, with Rohit Jain (Singhania & Co.) facilitating.

The inaugural day concluded with two significant partnerships: an understanding between FITT and World of Innovation (WOI), and a collaboration between TechnoSport and AIC-IIT Delhi for developing a dedicated sports technology acceleration initiative. Prof. Rangan Banerjee, IIT Delhi's Director, delivered concluding remarks.

Parallel to the main programming, a specialized Investor Meeting Day provided curated startup teams—including ventures founded by female entrepreneurs, university researchers, and innovators from rural regions—the opportunity to showcase functioning products directly to capital sources.

"India's next innovation wave will transcend individual technologies or sectors—it will materialize from the convergence of scientific discovery, entrepreneurial action, financial resources, and national ambitions. FITT Forward unites these seemingly separate ecosystems because India's innovation potential maximizes when breakthroughs can transition seamlessly from laboratories and fields into production facilities, commercial markets, and eventually worldwide influence." - 

Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi

Inclusive Innovation

Consistent with the inaugural gathering, FITT Forward 2026 prioritized inclusive participation. The exhibition floor featured student entrepreneurs, female-founded enterprises, and rural innovators presenting alongside established deep-tech pioneers. Since its 2025 inception, FITT has supported the creation of more than 280 enterprises, mobilized over ₹450 crore across portfolio investments, and successfully commercialized 25 patents with international reach.