IIT Madras signs 7 MoUs at ‘Bharat Innovates 2026’ in France

Indian Institute of Technology Madras and its international arm, IITM Global, signed five commercial Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between Indian deeptech startups and their international partners, predominantly from France, during their participation in ‘Bharat Innovates 2026’ in Nice, France. Two institutional MOUs aimed at accelerating global market access, investment, and innovation were also signed.

The startup partnerships announced included Agnikul Cosmos with ICEYE, Finland, and Safran, France; Detect Technologies with TotalEnergies; TuTr Hyperloop with thyssenkrupp;  iElectron Technologies with ALTEN; and the Indian Angel Network announced a potential investment in The ePlane Company.

“Bharat Innovates 2026 has proven to be a watershed moment for Indian deep tech. The MOUs exchanged are not just ceremonial —they are commercial, actionable, and backed by serious financial commitments. The premier higher educational institutions of Bharat have demonstrated that Indian innovation is ready to lead on the world stage,” Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said.

The two institutional MOUs were a strategic partnership between IITM Global and Agna Capital to establish the Bharat Innovates Fund, aimed at catalysing investments in high-potential deep-tech ventures, and a collaboration between IITM Global and SouthwestX to help Indian startups access and scale in the large German and French markets. Collectively, these agreements are expected to unlock nearly $100 million in value creation, strengthening India’s position as a global hub for deep-tech innovation and cross-border collaboration, IITM said.