Key Highlights
- Held alongside the World Sustainable Development Summit in New Delhi, 25‑27 February 2026.
- More than 24 prototypes, patents and pilot projects from the National Mission on Himalayan Studies will be exhibited.
- Over 100 startups, incubators, investors and policy makers will converge to foster climate‑resilient entrepreneurship.
- Key thematic areas include water security, climate adaptation, waste‑to‑wealth, sustainable construction, renewable energy and nature‑based livelihoods.
Detailed Insights
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has created Him‑CONNECT as an interactive platform that links scientists working across the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) with the private sector and governmental decision‑makers. By showcasing innovations from premier institutes—such as IIT Guwahati, IIT Roorkee, CSIR‑CRRI, NIT Silchar and TERI‑Guwahati—the event seeks to accelerate the commercialisation of technologies that safeguard the fragile mountain ecosystem.
Highlighted solutions comprise eco‑friendly road‑building methods, hydroponic systems powered by treated wastewater, conversion of sericulture waste into burn‑ointments, low‑cost mineralised water purifiers, pine‑needle wastewater treatment, decentralized water‑reuse modules and novel yak‑milk cottage‑cheese processing techniques. These interventions aim to strengthen water security, reduce waste, promote renewable energy use and generate nature‑based livelihoods for mountain communities.
The summit also emphasizes aligning scientific outputs with financial instruments and policy frameworks, encouraging South‑South cooperation among mountain nations, and positioning India as a proactive climate‑leadership hub.
Key Concepts
- Indian Himalayan Region (IHR): The high‑altitude belt extending across several Indian states, recognised for its role as an Asian climate regulator and water tower.
- National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS): A government‑led research initiative that funds interdisciplinary projects aimed at sustainable development of the Himalayas.
- Waste‑to‑Wealth: Strategies that transform solid or liquid waste streams into valuable products or services, thereby reducing environmental burden while creating economic opportunities.
- South‑South Cooperation: Collaborative partnerships among developing countries to share technology, expertise and financing for common developmental challenges.
- Climate‑Resilient Innovation: Technological or process‑based solutions designed to maintain functionality under changing climate conditions.