GCC INNOVATION SUMMIT 4.0 | IIT KANPUR | HCL TECH | IBSEA | 26th FEBRUARY 2026 | NOVOTEL HYDERABAD

At Novotel Hyderabad, The GCC Innovation Summit 2026 Was Not Merely An Event — It Was A Spark. A Spark Ignited By IIT Kanpur, Whose Light Is Destined To Travel Far And Wide. As You Are Aware, IIT Kanpur, In Collaboration With HCL Technologies, AWS, SBI, And Several Leading GCC Organizations, Organized A One-Day Deep-Tech Conference At HITEX City, Hyderabad. The Impact Of This Conference Can Be Measured By Its Scale And Energy — Five Booked Halls, Each fully Packed With Enthusiastic Participants Throughout The Day. The Summit Brought Together Startups, Innovators, Researchers, Government Executives, Policymakers, And Ecosystem Enablers On A Single Platform. Powerful Discussions Took Place On How Collaboration Can Lead To Meaningful Co-Creation. Through Multiple Exhibition Stalls, Startups Confidently Showcased Their Innovations, Ideas, And Technological Capabilities. The Warmth, Support, And Sense Of Belonging From Everyone Present Made It Feel Like Home — It Never Felt Like We Were In A New City. Personally, I Have Been Associated With IIT Kanpur Since SMC 2016, And Over The Last 10 Years, I Can Say With Conviction That IIT Kanpur Achieved Something Truly exceptional today — Perhaps Something No IIT Has Done At This Scale Before. The Outstanding Coordination, Seamless Planning, And Collective Efforts Of Everyone Involved Made This Event Truly Remarkable. Heartfelt Appreciation To The Organising Team, Esteemed Speakers, Dedicated Volunteers, Supportive Sponsors, And The Governments Of Uttar Pradesh And Telangana For Their Continuous Support. Special Congratulations And Gratitude To Prof. Manindra Agarwal Sir, Director, IIT Kanpur; Shri Jaishankar Sharma Ji, SMC IITKAA Chairperson And Advisor / Executive Board Member Of IBSEA; Babita Lohani Ma’am; And The Entire Team For Making This Vision A Reality. My Sincere Thanks To The IBSEA Hyderabad State Team And Distinguished Guests Who Joined Us From Various States. At Today’s Conference, IBSEA Had The Honour Of Serving As The Global Outreach Partner. IBSEA’s Mission Is Clear — To Simplify The Startup Journey, Provide The Right Platforms, And Transform Vision Into Scalable Ventures. The IBSEA 2026 Annual Calendar Is Fully Packed With High-Impact Initiatives. Join IBSEA, Be A Part Of This Movement, And Contribute Actively Towards The Viksit Bharat 2047 Mission. www.ibsea.in www.anshumaansingh.com | HCLTech and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur to Advance Deep Tech Innovation for GCCs Noida/Kanpur , 26 February 2026 Source: Information and Media Outreach Cell, IIT Kanpur Noida/Kanpur, February 26, 2026: HCLTech, a leading global technology company, and the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly convert cutting-edge research into real-world pilots and scalable solutions for Global Capability Centers (GCCs). The collaboration positions HCLTech as a trusted GCC partner for enabling research-led innovation, particularly in advanced engineering and deep tech, with a strong focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, and next-generation technologies. By combining HCLTech’s comprehensive GCC solutions with IIT Kanpur’s research and startup ecosystem, the partnership enables research-driven innovation that extends beyond traditional talent and service models. Through this initiative, GCCs will be able to accelerate complex research programs, access niche skills without the need to build internal laboratories, and reduce time-to-market. “At IIT Kanpur, we have strong expertise and ongoing translational R&D in AI and intelligent systems, robotics, cybersecurity, and other next-generation technologies. Through this partnership with HCLTech, our researchers gain direct access to real-world challenges faced by global GCCs, complemented by access to research funding and industry mentorship. Translational research being a strategic priority, this MoU serves as a bridge between academic research and enterprises to co-develop innovative technologies with measurable impact,” said Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur. “The next era of GCC growth will be shaped by how effectively they tap into world-class research and deep tech ecosystems. This MoU with IIT Kanpur positions HCLTech as a catalyst — bringing GCCs, academic excellence, research, and the startup ecosystem together — to help enterprises transition from research to pilots and enterprise-ready solutions at speed and scale, delivering quicker time-to-market and enhanced customer experiences,” said Mr. Kiran Cherukuri, EVP and Global GCC Practice Head, HCLTech. The collaboration was formally launched at the ‘GCC 4.0: Co-Creating India’s Innovation Powerhouse’ summit in Hyderabad. The event brought together over 250 leaders from India-based and global GCCs, IIT Kanpur, startups, and the broader technology ecosystem.