Pune, June 10 : Pune’s 500 mn AI roadmap was unveiled at the Shakti Summit 2026 by the HEF Pune District Chapter at the Pune International Centre. Organised by the Pune Chapter of the Hindu Economic Forum , the Summit was an operational launchpad for Bharat’s Strategic Power Framework – Strategic Defence and Aerospace, Hindu Temple Economy, Artificial Intelligence, Knowledge and Media, Technology, and Infrastructure. Notably, the Summit put on display ISACA, India’s own autonomous craft developed for naval, defence, disaster management and search and rescue operations.
Shri Jishnu Dev Varma, Governor of Maharashtra, graced the event as the Chief Guest, delivering the special address and unveiling the ISACA. The Governor underlined the importance of stronger collaboration between government, industry, investors and knowledge institutions in sectors central to India’s long-term growth and strategic self-reliance.
The Summit delivered extensively on its multipronged objective: anchoring indigenous Artificial Intelligence, unlocking domestic venture capital, and reinforcing strategic self-reliance across critical defence and economic ecosystems.
“It gives me great pleasure to be present at SHAKTI Summit 2026. The word SHAKTI itself represents power, not merely physical power, but the power of knowledge, organisation, innovation, enterprise, technology, discipline, and a collective purpose. When such power is guided by dharma and national interest, it becomes a force for prosperity and social good,” said Shri Jishnu Dev Varma, Governor of Maharashtra.
“India today stands at a defining moment. Across the world, supply chains are being reorganised. New technologies are transforming every sector. Artificial intelligence, semiconductors, electronics, defence, aerospace, robotics, advanced manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, healthcare, and the digital economy are no longer optional sectors. They are strategic pillars of national strength. For a nation of India’s size and ambition, economic strength and strategic strength cannot be separated. A strong economy gives strength to national security. A strong industry creates jobs. Strong research creates innovation. Strong entrepreneurs create new markets. Strong MSMEs create resilience. And strong values ensure that growth remains humane, inclusive, and purposeful,” Shri Varma added.
Gaurav Tripathi, President, HEF Pune District Chapter, and Co-founder & CTO, Partex.AI said,
“The SHAKTI Summit 2026 marks a paradigm shift in how we approach economic growth. We are now building an execution-first ecosystem where serious capital, strategic industrial sectors, and civilizational clarity converge. The Pune AI Grid is positioning Pune as the Applied AI and Strategic Capital of Bharat by redoubling its manufacturing and digital prowess. By aligning our deep research talent, robust industrial shopfloors, and foundational infrastructure, we are turning national priorities like Atmanirbhar Bharat into measurable economic milestones.”
The Dollar 500 Million Pune AI Vision: Partex.AI presented a comprehensive roadmap to establish Pune as the global capital of applied AI: from a $50 million foundation phase with distributed GPU clusters and an AI Model Foundry, scaling to a $500 million platform aimed at training 100,000 professionals and developing exportable solutions for defence, manufacturing, and healthcare.
Dr. Gunjan Bharadwaj, Founder & CEO, Partex.AI, stated:
“The Pune AI Vision is an opportunity to leverage exploratory and exploitative innovation on a scale that few cities globally can match. By unifying Pune’s unique constellation of talent, we can build decision-making technology that transforms not just Indian industry, but the world. Partex is committed to being a partner in this vision, bringing our expertise in AI-driven platforms to accelerate innovation across defence, manufacturing, and life sciences.”
India’s First Indigenous Autonomous Surface Craft on Display for the First Time: Accurate Industrial Controls displayed ISACA, India’s first indigenously developed Autonomous Surface Vessel. Validated through Indian Navy-evaluated trials, ISACA combines AI, sensor fusion, and indigenous collision-avoidance software, marking a major milestone in India’s maritime autonomy.
Said Shri Kiran Jadhav, Chairman & Managing Director, Accurate Group,
“Indigenous autonomous vessel technology is a statement of India’s capability and our resolve for Atmanirbharta. At the SHAKTI Summit, we created the conditions for transformative solutions that will serve our nation’s defence and maritime strength.”
Strategic Discussions on critical sectors formed the highlight of the Summit, covering defence, aerospace, rare earths, infrastructure, technology, temple economy, AI, startups – by a diverse selection of industry leaders, founders, and experts.
To ensure these strategic conversations yield tangible results, the HEF Pune District Chapter announced the formation of a Defence Working Group, reinforcing their commitment to structured, post-summit follow-through.