R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, SEPT 23
Can Chennai’s research depth, engineering talent and technology entrepreneurship combine with Bengaluru’s global innovation platform to create fresh opportunities across South India’s tech landscape? That was the central opportunity explored as the Government of Karnataka engaged Chennai’s technology and business fraternity ahead of the 29th Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2026, inviting industry leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and researchers to connect with the summit’s expanding technology ecosystem.
The industry interaction meet was held on Wednesday as a precursor to the three-day summit, scheduled from November 17 to 19, 2026, at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) under the theme “AI & Beyond.”
- Karnataka courts Chennai’s technology fraternity ahead of 29th Bengaluru Tech Summit, themed ‘AI & Beyond’
- IIT Madras expertise, technology leaders and entrepreneurs bring Chennai’s research-and-innovation strengths into focus
- BTS 2026 to convene global technology players, startups, investors and policymakers from November 17–19
- Summit to feature AI, DeepTech, semiconductors, biotechnology, fintech, spacetech and emerging technology sectors
- More than 1,800 exhibitors, 1,000+ startups and 60,000+ business visitors expected from 75+ countries
- Bengaluru platform aims to deepen collaboration, investment and market access across technology ecosystems
Dr N. Manjula, IAS, Secretary to Government, Department of Electronics, IT, Bt and S&T, Government of Karnataka, shared insights into the state’s technology ecosystem and opportunities for greater collaboration. The engagement provided Chennai-based companies and startups an opportunity to explore participation in BTS 2026 and connect with stakeholders shaping the summit.
Chennai’s expertise in the spotlight
The gathering brought together a distinguished mix of technology policy leaders, research and innovation experts, industry representatives and summit organisers.
Those present included Subramaniam S.R., Director, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Chennai; Dr Avinash Menon Rajendran, IAS, Director, Department of Electronics, IT & Bt and Managing Director, Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS); Dr P.M. Murali, Chairperson, Biotech Conference Committee, BTS 2026, and Founder & Chairman, Jananom Pvt. Ltd.; Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Institute Professor, IIT Madras, and Chairman, Immersive Technology and Entrepreneurship Labs; and Jagdish Patankar, Event Curator, Bengaluru Tech Summit 2026, and Executive Chairman, MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications Pvt. Ltd.
Dr Manjula and the visiting dignitaries interacted with Chennai’s technology and business community on opportunities offered by Karnataka’s ecosystem and the forthcoming summit.
The participation of Prof. Jhunjhunwala, alongside technology, biotech and innovation leaders, brought research, engineering, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration into the conversation—areas central to turning emerging technologies into practical applications and scalable ventures.
A global platform for frontier technologies
Organised by the Department of Electronics, IT & Bt, Government of Karnataka, in association with Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), BTS 2026 is expected to bring together global leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, researchers and policymakers.
The summit’s agenda will span Artificial Intelligence, DeepTech, electronics and semiconductors, biotechnology, startups, AVGC and other frontier technologies.
Organisers expect more than 1,800 exhibitors, 25,000+ delegates, 1,000+ technology startups and over 60,000 business visitors from more than 75 countries and 30+ States and Union Territories.
The three-day programme will feature multiple thematic tracks, including AI & DeepTech, fintech, health and biotech, spacetech, the India–USA Tech Conclave and global collaboration. Emerging focus areas will include digital infrastructure and data centres, circular economy, orange economy and electric mobility.
Startups, investors and global market connections
Beyond the conference sessions, the summit will feature a large multi-pavilion exhibition showcasing innovations across sectors, alongside curated networking platforms, investor-connect initiatives and global partnerships.
A key feature will be the Future Makers programme, designed to spotlight high-potential startups and connect founders with investors, mentors and global markets.
The programme will include investor pitching sessions, one-to-one mentoring clinics, discussions on scaling and fundraising, a Startup Showcase and the Future Makers Conclave—bringing together founders, investors, innovators and other participants in the startup ecosystem.
For Chennai’s technology companies and emerging ventures, the summit offers a platform to explore partnerships, showcase capabilities and engage with a wider network of investors and industry stakeholders.
Embedded systems and semiconductors take centre stage
A major addition to BTS 2026 will be the co-location of the maiden India editions of embedded world India, presented by NuernbergMesse India.
Focused on electronics, semiconductors and embedded systems, the event is expected to add another dimension to the summit’s technology showcase, bringing attention to the hardware and systems underpinning connected devices, industrial applications and emerging digital technologies.
The co-location also aligns with the summit’s wider emphasis on electronics and semiconductors, alongside AI, DeepTech and other technology domains.
Building collaboration beyond city boundaries
With nearly three decades of history, Bengaluru Tech Summit has developed into a meeting point for technology businesses, research institutions, startups, investors and policymakers.
The 2026 edition is expected to build on previous summits through an expanded exhibition, international delegations, startup programmes, investor engagements, conference tracks and knowledge-sharing platforms.
For Chennai’s technology fraternity, the industry meet provides an opportunity to engage with Karnataka’s innovation network and explore collaborations across research, product development, entrepreneurship and investment.
As Bengaluru prepares to host the global technology community this November, the theme “AI & Beyond” places the spotlight not only on artificial intelligence but also on the wider ecosystem of skills, research, engineering and enterprise needed to translate technological advances into real-world applications.
The larger question for the region is how sustained engagement between technology hubs can help ideas move from laboratories and startups into products, partnerships and markets.
Subramaniam S.R., Director, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Chennai; Dr. Avinash Menon Rajendran, IAS, Director, Dept. of Electronics, IT & Bt and Managing Director, KITS, Govt. of Karnataka; Dr. P.M. Murali, Chairperson– Biotech Conference Committee, BTS 2026, and Founder & Chairman, Jananom Pvt. Ltd.; Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Institute Professor, IIT Madras, India, Chairman, Immersive Technology and Entrepreneurship Labs; and Jagdish Patankar, Event Curator, Bengaluru Tech Summit 2026 & Executive Chairman, MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications Pvt. Ltd. also spoke at the industry interaction meet.
