CII to Host 22nd Edition of Innovation Summit — INNOVERGE 2026 — in Bengaluru on July 22–23
Bengaluru : The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) today announced INNOVERGE 2026, the 22nd edition of its flagship Innovation Summit, to be held on July 22–23, 2026, in Bengaluru.
The CII Innoverge 2026 will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, startups, academia, and innovation ecosystem stakeholders under the theme “Transforming India into an AI-Led Product Nation – Innovation, Trust & Technology.” The theme marks a continuation of CII’s push, first sharpened at last year’s edition, to reposition India from a services-led technology hub to a builder of globally competitive, AI-native products. With INNOVERGE 2026, CII extends that trajectory into a sharper focus on artificial intelligence as the connective thread across manufacturing, mobility, life sciences, energy, and national security underscoring India’s ambition to move from adopting AI to building and exporting AI-led products.
Addressing the media:
Mr Kris Gopalakrishnan, Past President, CII, Mentor, CII Innoverge 2026, Co-Founder, Infosys Ltd & Chairman, Axilor Ventures said “For over two decades, CII has championed technology-led innovation as a driver of economic growth, job creation and new opportunities for industry. With AI emerging as a transformative force, I believe we must leverage this disruption to create new momentum for our companies and our country. This is a defining moment for India to invest in innovation, R&D and indigenous technologies, and transition into a true product nation one that develops globally relevant products and technologies adopted by the world.”
Mr Kamal Bali, Chairman, CII Innoverge 2026 & President & Managing Director, Volvo Group India added “I believe India is at a pivotal moment in its innovation journey. We must move beyond being a technology adopter and services powerhouse to becoming a creator of trusted, competitive, scalable and globally relevant products. AI will be a key enabler across sectors—from design and manufacturing to customer experience, supply chains and sustainability. With our strong talent pool, expanding infrastructure, growing manufacturing capabilities, world-class research institutions, supportive policy environment and robust domestic market, I am confident that India has all the ingredients to emerge as a global product nation in the era of AI. Through CII Innoverge 2026, we aim to bring together industry leaders, startups, academia, policymakers and innovators to accelerate this transformation through the pillars of Innovation, Trust and Technology.
Mr Guruprasad Mudlapur, Chairman, CII Karnataka State Council, President & Managing Director, Bosch Group India, Bosch Ltd mentioned “CII Innoverge has evolved into a premier platform for innovation in both Karnataka and India, bringing together industry, academia, startups, and policymakers. As part of the curation team for its 22nd edition in Bengaluru, I look forward to meaningful conversations on AI and technology that will drive India’s next phase of growth. Bengaluru, with its vibrant innovation ecosystem, provides the ideal setting for these exchanges, and I am confident that this year’s Innoverge will inspire new ideas and create a lasting impact.”
Mr Rabindra Srikantan, Immediate Past Chairman, CII Karnataka State Council & Managing Director, ASM Technologies Ltd highlighted “The next phase of India’s growth will depend on our ability to move beyond being a technology adopter to becoming a creator of globally competitive products and intellectual property. As artificial intelligence reshapes industries, India has a unique opportunity to combine its engineering talent, entrepreneurial ecosystem, advanced manufacturing & Industrial AI capabilities to build products that can serve global markets. CII Innoverge 2026 has been curated as a collaborative platform to bring together industry, startups, academia, investors and policymakers to accelerate this transformation and strengthen India’s position as an innovation-driven economy.”
Mr Sam Cherian, Vice Chairman, CII Karnataka State Council & Founder Chairman, Schevaran Group said “Innovation today is no longer confined to research laboratories or technology companies it is becoming central to every sector, from manufacturing and mobility to healthcare, energy and the creative economy. As India advances towards becoming an AI-led product nation, it is equally important for our MSMEs to embrace innovation as a core strategy for growth, competitiveness and long-term business sustainability. The conversations at CII Innoverge 2026 will focus on how India can harness AI, foster trusted innovation and build resilient product ecosystems that create long-term value. By bringing together diverse stakeholders under one platform, the Summit aims to catalyse partnerships, inspire new ideas and help shape India’s journey towards becoming a globally competitive AI-led product nation.”
Mr Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, has been invited to address the Summit.
The Government of Karnataka, through the Department of Commerce & Industries and the Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology & Science & Technology, has supported the Summit since its inception.
Mr D K Shivakumar, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka has also been invited to address the Summit.
Mr Priyank Kharge, Hon’ble Minister for Home, Information Technology, Biotechnology and E-Governance, Government of Karnataka, will address the Summit, highlighting the State’s vision for globally competitive and innovation-driven economy.
The event will also feature the participation of the Secretaries of the Department of Commerce & Industries and the Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology & Science & Technology, who will share the Government’s vision, policy priorities, and strategic initiatives to accelerate innovation, technology-led growth, and industrial competitiveness in the State across sectors.
Mr Deepak Bagla, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission, Government of India, will deliver a special address on “Innovation at the Grassroots,” highlighting the critical role of inclusive innovation, entrepreneurship and the startup ecosystem in driving India’s transformation into an AI-led product nation.
Building on a Two-Decade Legacy
INNOVERGE has grown into one of India’s most closely watched innovation platforms since its inception. The Speakers are leading innovators and experts in the chosen sectors.
About INNOVERGE 2026
● Edition: 22nd Edition of the India Innovation Summit
● Dates: July 22–23, 2026
● Venue: Bengaluru
● Industrial Visits to Fanuc Ltd & ABB on 21st July 2026
● Theme: Transforming India into an AI-Led Product Nation – Innovation, Trust & Technology
● Highlights: Innovation showcase by global innovation leaders, INNOVERGE Recognitions, CEO and thought-leader insights, keynotes and panels, product demos and launches, and a dedicated Tech Showcase.
● Website: ciiindiainnoverge.in
2026 Agenda: Seven National Priority Tracks
INNOVERGE 2026 will organise its discussions around seven thematic pillars reflecting the current national innovation agenda:
● AI & Data Centres — Building a robust AI ecosystem, promoting innovation, and ensuring that technology serves every section of society.
● Automotive & Next-Gen Mobility — Leveraging robotics, automation, AI, and digital technologies to enhance industrial productivity and global competitiveness.
● Biotechnology & Life Sciences — Driving adoption of intelligent operations, Responsible AI, and robust data governance and compliance frameworks.
● Innovation-led Advanced Manufacturing & AI — Strengthening pathways from research to commercialisation and enabling faster productization of new technologies.
● Leveraging India’s Soft Power Economy — Accelerating opportunities for Indian youth in the creative and digital content industries (the Orange Economy).
● Strategic Sustainable Energy Innovation — Exploring emerging energy technologies, nuclear expansion, and biofuel integration to support sustainable industrial growth.
● Technology Sovereignty in Aerospace, Space & Defence — Building domestic capabilities in critical and emerging technologies strategically important to India’s economic and national security.
Prominent Speakers:
Mr Vijaykrishnan Venkatesan, Past Chairman CII Karnataka & Managing Director Kennametal
Mr Prashanth Doreswamy, President & Chief Executive Officer, Aumovio India
Mr D Sai Prasad, Executive Director, Bharat Biotech
Mr Shreehas Tambe, Chief Executive Officer, Biocon Ltd
Mr Sridhar Vembu, Co-founder and Chief Scientist, Zoho Corporation
Mr Mallavarapu Apparao, Managing Director, Centum Electronics
Mr B Santhanam, Former Chairman and CEO, Saint-Gobain Asia Pacific and India
Mr Huseyin Ozmera, Exec VP, Bosch Limited
Mr Dilip Sawhney, Regional Director, Rockwell Automation
Mr Sangeet Kumar, Founder, Addverb
Ms Gowri Kailasam, Chief Executive Officer, Rane Ltd
Mr Shankar Vanavarayar, Executive Director, ABT Industries Pvt Ltd
Dr V K Maheshwari, Executive Director of Corporate R&D, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)
