New Delhi, September 12, 2026: Can India build artificial intelligence for 1.4 billion people, and for the world? Can it become a space superpower, a semiconductor manufacturer, and a healthcare innovator, all within the same decade? These were the questions posed at FITT Forward 2026, a two-day summit hosted by the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) at IIT Delhi, which concluded on September 11 at the FITT-IIT Delhi campus.
The summit brought together entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders, and policymakers to chart India’s deep-tech trajectory across AI, semiconductors, space, biotechnology, agriculture, and sports technology.
Highlights from FITT Forward 2026
- Opening Fireside: Cricket icon and investor Bhuvaneshwar Kumar in conversation with Sachin Marya, Editorial Director at Entrepreneur India & APAC, on his journey from performance to entrepreneurship.
- AI Panel: Chaired by Pradeep Gupta, CMD, CyberMedia Group, with Prof. Mausam (IIT Delhi), Kavita Bhatia (MeitY), and Sandeep Aurora (Microsoft India & South Asia) on India’s AI ambitions.
- Capital Panel: Leaders from RDI Fund, Dani Family Office, DS Group Family Office, and India Accelerator debated patient capital for deep-tech.
- Advanced Manufacturing & Semiconductors: Featuring Monk9 Tech, Sona Comstar, Cadence Design Systems, Maruti Suzuki, and BlueHills Capital, moderated by Kiran Deshpande.
- Agritech Panel: Leaders from Madhu Group, KRAMP India, Beri Udyog, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, and IIM Shillong discussed global competitiveness in agriculture.
- DeepTech Keynote: Delivered by Dr. Anita Gupta, tracing India’s path from government-funded research to global commercial scale.
- Unicorn Fireside: Founders of InsuranceDekho, Delhivery, and Polygon shared journeys from idea to scale.
- MoUs Signed: FITT partnered with World of Innovation (WOI) and TechnoSport with AIC-IIT Delhi to build a dedicated SportsTech accelerator.
- Demo Day: Curated startups, including women-led, student-led, and rural innovators, showcased live products to investors.
- Day Two: Sessions on space ambitions, health & biotechnology, institutional capital, and sportstech, closing with the FITT Forward Innovation Awards 2026.
Prof. Vivek V. Buwa, DDSP, IIT Delhi: “FITT focuses on arms creation, licensing technology and startups. IIT Delhi provides the right ecosystem, resources and support to transform ideas into practical innovations and successful ventures.”
Dr. Nikhil Agarwal: “FITT Forward 2026 is designed to move the conversation from India’s ability to innovate to its ability to own and scale the technologies that will shape the next decade.”
Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi: “The next wave of Indian innovation will not be defined by one sector or one technology—it will emerge at the intersection of research, entrepreneurship, capital and national priorities.”
Impact & Inclusion
- FITT Forward 2026 kept inclusion at its centre, with student-led, women-led, and rural innovator teams demonstrating live alongside established ventures.
- FITT has incubated 280+ startups, facilitated ₹450 crore+ in cumulative funding, and commercialised 25 global patents.
Partners
- Technology Partner: Microsoft
- Global Investment Partner: WOI.India
- Innovation Partner: HS Foundation
- Treasury Partner: IIFL Capital
- Legal Partner: Singhania & Co. LLP
- Gifting Partner: Indigotex
About FITT
The Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) at IIT Delhi is dedicated to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer. FITT provides infrastructure, mentorship, and capital access to help entrepreneurs transform ideas into scalable ventures.
🌐 Learn more: fitt-iitd.in