ImagiNxt 2026 Opens with Keynotes by Dr. Jitendra Singh and Shri Devendra Fadnavis
by Prashant Kapadia/NHN
India’s Festival of Technology & Innovation brings together founders, policymakers, investors and technology leaders across AI, DeepTech, SpaceTech and digital infrastructure
Mumbai, 22nd May 2026: Hosted by Maharashtra Tourism, the inaugural edition of ImagiNxt 2026, India’s Festival of Technology & Innovation, kicked off today at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, bringing together founders, policymakers, investors, enterprise leaders and technology innovators from India and abroad.
The inaugural day featured keynote addresses by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State of the Department of Science and Technology and the Prime Minister’s Office, and Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, Prime Minister’s Office, Atomic Energy and Space, said, “India is entering a transformative decade driven by science, technology and innovation, with sectors such as AI, quantum computing, biotechnology, space and nuclear energy expected to become key engines of economic growth. India’s space economy, which stands at nearly USD 9 billion today, is projected to scale to nearly USD 40–45 billion over the next decade. In just five years, India’s space startup ecosystem has expanded from single-digit startups to more than 400 startups today, including one unicorn, following the opening up of the sector to private participation. Through initiatives such as the National Quantum Mission, India AI Mission, Nuclear Energy Mission and the BioE3 biotechnology policy, India is building globally competitive and future-ready technology ecosystems.”
He further added, “India’s defence production has crossed ₹1.5 lakh crore in 2025, marking growth of over 170% compared to 2014 levels, while defence exports have exceeded ₹23,000 crore with Indian defence technologies now reaching markets across Europe and Southeast Asia. To accelerate deep-tech innovation and private sector participation, the Government has also announced a ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Fund aimed at supporting next-generation technologies and startups. India is also rapidly scaling digital governance, clean energy, AI infrastructure and indigenous research capabilities to position itself as a trusted global technology and innovation partner in the years ahead.”
Speaking today at ImagiNxt, at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, said, “Artificial Intelligence is set to transform every aspect of business, governance and everyday life, and Maharashtra is determined to be at the forefront of that transformation. Through the Maharashtra AI Policy 2026, we have laid out an ambitious roadmap to attract over ₹10,000 crore in investments and create more than 1.5 lakh jobs by 2031. To support this vision, we are building six AI Centres of Excellence, five AI Innovation Cities, launching a ₹500 crore AI Startup Fund, establishing 12 AI incubators and creating a shared compute infrastructure of 2,000 GPUs to accelerate innovation across startups, enterprises and government.”
“Maharashtra already contributes over 31% of India’s FDI inflows and has grown from a ₹14 lakh crore economy in 2015 to nearly ₹54 lakh crore today, making us a nearly $660 billion economy. Our aspiration is clear — to become a $1 trillion economy by 2030 and emerge among the world’s leading economic regions, surpassing economies such as Singapore and the UAE in the years ahead. Technology, innovation and ease of doing business will remain central pillars of this journey as we build the next generation of growth and opportunity from Maharashtra”
As Maharashtra continues to strengthen its position as a leading destination for innovation and entrepreneurship, ImagiNxt 2026 brought together startups, policymakers, investors, academia and technology leaders on a single platform. The event spotlighted conversations around AI, DeepTech, SpaceTech, digital infrastructure and emerging technologies shaping India’s innovation ecosystem.
Positioned as a national platform for emerging technologies and innovation, the two-day event is hosting over 10,000+ attendees, including founders, investors, policymakers, enterprise leaders, creators, academia and emerging technology companies from India and abroad.
Featuring 150+ Indian and global speakers, 250+ startups and 100+ investors, ImagiNxt 2026 brought together conversations around AI, digital infrastructure, media and India’s next phase of technology-led growth.
Deepak Lamba, Founder and CEO of ImagiNxt, said, “The response to the opening day of ImagiNxt 2026 reflects the scale of ambition and momentum building across India’s innovation ecosystem. From policymakers and founders to investors, creators and technology leaders, the platform brought together voices shaping what the next decade of India could look like across AI, deeptech, digital infrastructure and entrepreneurship.”
About ImagiNxt :ImagiNxt is India’s global festival of technology, innovation and the future of business – bringing together the people building what’s next. It’s not just a conference – it’s a catalyst for ideas, partnerships and decisions that define the future. ImagiNxt brings together founders, policymakers, enterprise leaders, investors, academia and public institutions. Designed as a convergent ecosystem, it aims to shape conversations and enable action around the future of industries and economies.