More than 100 deep-tech startups incubated at higher education institutions and centrally funded technical institutes will get an opportunity to showcase India’s technological prowess in France in June.Bharat Innovates 2026, an initiative of the Ministry of Education with strategic guidance from the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, has been designed to showcase India’s R&D-backed technologies on the global stage.“We are looking for technology readiness levels (TRL) 6-9 and the uniqueness of projects by startups. A committee headed by the PSA will evaluate the proposals. Several technologies, including the one aimed at cutting carbon dioxide emissions from vehicular exhaust, have already been submitted,” an official said.The initiative aims to enable ventures to expand globally by connecting them with international markets, technology partners and investors. It seeks to bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercial success by ensuring that high-potential ideas receive the necessary institutional and financial support.On March 21 and 22, a National Demo Day will be organised at IIT-Bombay, where shortlisted deep-tech startups from across India will showcase cutting-edge innovations before industry leaders, academia, incubators and curated investors.To be held in France later this year, the programme aims to curate and present around 100 promising and path-breaking technology innovations at various stages of development to a global audience comprising industry leaders, investors, policymakers, potential collaborators and technology partners.“It is an opportunity for deep-tech innovators at different stages of venture development to stake a claim among the top 100 promising and path-breaking venture teams representing India globally,” another official said.Submissions will undergo multiple stages of evaluation by committees comprising thematic experts, industry professionals, incubation leaders, institutional investors and senior figures from India’s science, technology and innovation ecosystem.The initiative spans 13 thematic areas, including biotechnology; space and defence; blue economy; smart cities and mobility; disaster management and resilient infrastructure; next-generation communications; healthcare and medtech; advanced computing; semiconductors; agri and food technologies; energy and climate change; and rare earths and critical minerals.