BENGALURU — JULY 14, 2026: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) today announced the 22nd edition of its flagship Innovation Summit, INNOVERGE 2026. Scheduled to take place in Bengaluru on July 22–23, 2026, the landmark event will convene policymakers, industry leaders, academic experts, and key startup ecosystem stakeholders under the central theme: “Transforming India into an AI-Led Product Nation – Innovation, Trust & Technology.”
Building on the trajectory established during last year’s summit, INNOVERGE 2026 marks a decisive, strategic push to transition India from its traditional role as a services-led technology powerhouse into a global creator of competitive, AI-native products. This year’s edition sharpens the focus on artificial intelligence as the critical connective thread driving advancements across vital sectors, including manufacturing, mobility, life sciences, energy, and national security. The summit will emphasize India’s growing ambition to move beyond the mere adoption of AI toward building, scaling, and exporting AI-led solutions globally.
The high-profile event will feature addresses from several senior government dignitaries. Mr. Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, and Mr. D. K. Shivakumar, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, will address the summit. Additionally, Mr. Priyank Kharge, Hon’ble Minister for Home, Information Technology, Biotechnology, and E-Governance, Government of Karnataka, will outline the state’s strategic blueprint for building a globally competitive, innovation-driven economy.
Further bridging the public-private dialogue, the Secretaries of the Department of Commerce & Industries and the Department of IT, BT, and Science & Technology will participate. They will share the government’s policy priorities and strategic frameworks designed to accelerate industrial competitiveness and technology-driven growth across the state.
Addressing the media ahead of the event, Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan, Past President of CII, Mentor for INNOVERGE 2026, and Co-Founder of Infosys Ltd, emphasized the urgency of this transition. “For over two decades, CII has championed technology-led innovation as a driver of economic growth and job creation. With AI emerging as a transformative force, we must leverage this disruption to create new momentum. This is a defining moment for India to invest heavily in R&D and indigenous technologies, transitioning into a true product nation whose innovations are adopted worldwide.”
Echoing these thoughts, Mr. Kamal Bali, Chairman of CII INNOVERGE 2026 and President & Managing Director of Volvo Group India, remarked, “India is at a pivotal moment. We must move beyond being a technology adopter to becoming a creator of trusted, scalable products. AI will be the ultimate enabler across sectors—from manufacturing and supply chains to sustainability. With our world-class research institutions, expanding infrastructure, and strong talent pool, India has all the ingredients to lead in the era of AI.”
The launch announcement was attended by key regional leadership, including Mr. Guruprasad Mudlapur (Chairman, CII Karnataka State Council and President & MD, Bosch Group India), Mr. Rabindra Srikantan (Immediate Past Chairman, CII Karnataka State Council), and Mr. Sam Cherian (Vice Chairman, CII Karnataka State Council).
The two-day summit will also feature a special address by Mr. Deepak Bagla, Mission Director of the Atal Innovation Mission, Government of India. Speaking on “Innovation at the Grassroots,” he will highlight the indispensable role of inclusive entrepreneurship and the startup ecosystem in securing India’s future as a global product leader.
