On April 2, 2026, the IIIT-Bangalore Innovation Centre hosted the NAIN Innovation Conclave 2026, bringing together student innovators, industry leaders, and government representatives to celebrate innovation emerging from institutions across Karnataka.
Organised under the New Age Incubation Network (NAIN) initiative, the conclave served as a platform for students to present innovative solutions addressing real-world challenges in areas such as artificial intelligence, healthcare, sustainability, and digital infrastructure. The event reflected Karnataka’s continued commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and strengthening innovation ecosystems beyond Bengaluru.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Manjula N, Secretary to the Government, Department of Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Science & Technology, highlighted how initiatives like NAIN are helping take innovation to institutions across the state and empowering young innovators to build impactful solutions.
The conclave featured an innovation showcase, sessions on intellectual property and commercialisation, and recognition of outstanding student innovators. It also provided an important opportunity for collaboration between academia, industry, and government to accelerate pathways from ideas to implementation.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Lakshmi Jagannathan, CEO, IIIT-B Innovation Centre, noted that the conclave represents the creativity and technical excellence of students leveraging emerging technologies to address societal challenges. Prof. Debabrata Das, Director, IIIT-Bangalore, emphasized that students are not just learning technology but creating solutions with the potential to transform lives.
Currently spanning 76 institutions, the NAIN network has supported over 2,300 students, funded more than 600 projects, and enabled the creation of over 60 startups, along with numerous patents and intellectual property filings.
The conclave reaffirmed IIIT-Bangalore’s role in nurturing innovation and enabling student-led entrepreneurship for a more resilient and future-ready India.