Wadhwani-IISc Innovation Centre to strengthen India’s quantum and deep-tech innovation ecosystem

Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has marked a significant milestone in India’s innovation journey with the recent  inauguration of the Wadhwani-IISc Innovation Centre and the successful hosting of Quantum Pitch Fest 2026, reinforcing the institute’s commitment to advancing deep-tech research, translational innovation, and entrepreneurship.

The Centre has been established to catalyse deep-tech innovation, startup incubation, and industry collaboration, further strengthening IISc’s position as a leading hub for scientific research, translational innovation, and entrepreneurial excellence.

The Wadhwani-IISc Innovation Centre is part of the Wadhwani Innovation Network (WIN) – a national initiative launched as part of the Rs 1,400+ crore collaborative investment announced last year by the Wadhwani Foundation in collaboration with ANRF, premier academic institutions, and government partners to strengthen India’s deep-tech innovation and research commercialisation ecosystem.

The event also marked the launch of InQubate – a comprehensive quantum startup acceleration platform designed to nurture early-stage ideas and propel them into impactful enterprises. InQubate is powered by IISc’s quad ecosystem – the Quantum Research Park (QuRP), Wadhwani-IISc Innovation Centre, FQCI, and INUP – creating a seamless continuum from lab to market.

With a mission to provide world-class mentorship, infrastructure, and collaborative opportunities, InQubate aims to empower innovators to transform quantum concepts into market-ready solutions while helping establish India as a globally competitive hub for deep-tech entrepreneurship.