Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday announced that the 14th edition of Bengaluru India Nano-2026, the state's flagship international nanotechnology conference and exhibition, will be held here from August 3 to 5 with a focus on the convergence of nanotechnology and artificial intelligence to accelerate commercialisation of research.
The event, to be held at The LaLiT, will be organised under the theme 'Nanotech's Next Frontier: AI and Beyond - Conceive, Converge, Commercialise', and will feature an international conference, exhibition, startup showcase, excellence awards and programmes for researchers and students, officials said at a curtain raiser held at Vidhana Soudha.
Addressing the event, Kharge, who also holds electronics, information technology, biotechnology and e-governance portfolio, said, "Karnataka has consistently demonstrated that scientific excellence, when supported by visionary policy and strong industry collaboration, can create transformative impact." He said Bengaluru India Nano event brings together researchers, innovators, startups, academia and industry to accelerate commercialisation as artificial intelligence and nanotechnology increasingly converge.
Kharge said the state was committed to creating an ecosystem where frontier research translates into globally competitive products, sustainable industries and solutions that improve lives.
Secretary in the Department of Electronics, IT, BT and Science and Technology, Manjula N said Bengaluru India Nano had evolved into one of India's most significant platforms for advancing nanoscience and translating research into real-world applications.
She said this year's theme reflected the government's focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, startups, young researchers and stronger partnerships between academia, industry and government to strengthen Karnataka's position as a global hub for nanotechnology innovation and commercialisation.
The conference will begin with pre-conference tutorials on nano fabrication, nano characterisation and nano in biology on August 3, followed by the main conference on August 4 and 5 covering semiconductors, agriculture and health, and energy and environment.
It will also include plenary talks, industry roundtables, an international exhibition, NanoSparX startup pitching, programmes for students and the Bengaluru INDIA NANO Excellence Awards.
Organisers said the event is expected to host more than 80 speakers, over 1,000 delegates, 50 exhibitors and participants from more than 10 countries.
