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The Economic Times Launches 2026 Most Innovative AI Product Awards to Spotlight Indias AI Startups
The Economic Times (ET) announced the launch of its Most Innovative AI Product Awards 2026, a new category of its annual awards program that will recognise AI products developed by Indian organisations. The ceremony is scheduled for June 2026 and will feature a jury of industry experts who will evaluate submissions across several sectors, including banking, finance and insurance (BFSI), healthcare, manufacturing, agentic AI, AI for Bharat and enterprise productivity.
The awards are part of a broader effort by ET to address a credibility gap that has emerged as the number of AI‑driven solutions in India has grown. According to reports, India’s AI market was projected to reach $8 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 40 % between 2020 and 2025. The ET awards aim to give developers and companies a platform to demonstrate the real impact of their products, rather than relying on marketing claims.
Recognition and visibility are key benefits highlighted by the organisers. A win at the ET awards is described as a validation that can enhance a company’s reputation among investors, partners and customers. The awards also provide a venue for startups, small‑and‑medium enterprises (SMEs) and larger firms to showcase their work before a distinguished jury that includes decision‑makers from the public and private sectors.
Benchmarking against peers is another focus of the awards. The selection process will compare nominated products against leading innovations in the same industry, allowing entrants to gauge where they stand relative to competitors. The awards also aim to open new business opportunities, as past winners have reported increased conversations and partnership offers following their recognition.
The ET awards celebrate the teams behind the products, acknowledging the collaborative effort required to bring an AI solution from idea to market. By highlighting these teams, the awards aim to foster a culture of innovation within the Indian AI ecosystem.
India’s rapid transition from an AI adopter to an AI builder is a backdrop to the awards. The Economic Times has positioned the awards as a way to honour organisations that contribute to the country’s AI transformation and to build technologies that will shape India’s next phase of growth.
The nomination window for the 2026 awards is currently open, with submissions due before the end of May. The jury will assess entries based on criteria such as technical novelty, societal impact, scalability and commercial viability. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in June, with winners announced during the event.
The initiative aligns with national policy efforts, such as the 2018 National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence launched by NITI Aayog, which encourages the development of indigenous AI solutions. By providing a formal recognition mechanism, the ET awards support the ecosystem’s move toward a results‑driven culture.
In summary, the ET Most Innovative AI Product Awards 2026 will offer Indian AI developers a credible platform to showcase their products, benchmark against peers, and potentially unlock new business opportunities. The awards are scheduled for June 2026, with nominations closing in late May. The event is expected to reinforce India’s position as a growing AI market and to highlight the country’s capacity for building impactful AI solutions.
The awards are part of a broader effort by ET to address a credibility gap that has emerged as the number of AI‑driven solutions in India has grown. According to reports, India’s AI market was projected to reach $8 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 40 % between 2020 and 2025. The ET awards aim to give developers and companies a platform to demonstrate the real impact of their products, rather than relying on marketing claims.
Recognition and visibility are key benefits highlighted by the organisers. A win at the ET awards is described as a validation that can enhance a company’s reputation among investors, partners and customers. The awards also provide a venue for startups, small‑and‑medium enterprises (SMEs) and larger firms to showcase their work before a distinguished jury that includes decision‑makers from the public and private sectors.
Benchmarking against peers is another focus of the awards. The selection process will compare nominated products against leading innovations in the same industry, allowing entrants to gauge where they stand relative to competitors. The awards also aim to open new business opportunities, as past winners have reported increased conversations and partnership offers following their recognition.
The ET awards celebrate the teams behind the products, acknowledging the collaborative effort required to bring an AI solution from idea to market. By highlighting these teams, the awards aim to foster a culture of innovation within the Indian AI ecosystem.
India’s rapid transition from an AI adopter to an AI builder is a backdrop to the awards. The Economic Times has positioned the awards as a way to honour organisations that contribute to the country’s AI transformation and to build technologies that will shape India’s next phase of growth.
The nomination window for the 2026 awards is currently open, with submissions due before the end of May. The jury will assess entries based on criteria such as technical novelty, societal impact, scalability and commercial viability. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in June, with winners announced during the event.
The initiative aligns with national policy efforts, such as the 2018 National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence launched by NITI Aayog, which encourages the development of indigenous AI solutions. By providing a formal recognition mechanism, the ET awards support the ecosystem’s move toward a results‑driven culture.
In summary, the ET Most Innovative AI Product Awards 2026 will offer Indian AI developers a credible platform to showcase their products, benchmark against peers, and potentially unlock new business opportunities. The awards are scheduled for June 2026, with nominations closing in late May. The event is expected to reinforce India’s position as a growing AI market and to highlight the country’s capacity for building impactful AI solutions.
