ET NOW Global Business Summit 2026 brings together tech, energy and policy voices

The ET NOW Global Business Summit (GBS) 2026 , organised by The Times Group and co-powered by Spark Capital and Bennett University , concluded in New Delhi after two days of discussions on technology, innovation and the future of the global economy. Now in its ninth edition since its launch in 2015, the summit has become one of India’s leading platforms for dialogue between business leaders, policymakers and global innovators.

Held under the theme “A Decade of Disruption, A Century of Change,” the summit brought together entrepreneurs, scientists, diplomats and corporate executives from across the world to examine how emerging technologies and shifting geopolitics are reshaping industries and societies.

Among the prominent speakers were Mate Pencz , founder and CEO of Brazilian real-estate fintech unicorn Loft, and Ren Ito , co-founder and COO of Japanese artificial intelligence startup Sakana AI, who shared insights on scaling technology-driven enterprises in competitive global markets. A key highlight was an address by Dr. Lynn J. Rothschild , senior scientist at NASA , who spoke on the convergence of space research, synthetic biology and commercial innovation.

The summit also featured B. C. Tripathi , Operating Partner Energy at Essar and former Chairman and Managing Director of GAIL , who discussed how India’s energy transition is moving from ambition to execution, drawing on his experience of leading GAIL through a decade of rapid expansion.

Adding a strong diplomatic dimension to the event, H.E. Ambassador Lazar Comanescu , Secretary General of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) and former Foreign Minister of Romania, addressed the Axis Stage. A veteran statesman with deep expertise in multilateral diplomacy and regional economic integration, Ambassador Comanescu highlighted the role of policy alignment, governance and multilateral cooperation in a world defined by disruption, stressing how regional partnerships and strategic diplomacy shape long-term economic and political stability.

Discussions at the summit focused on artificial intelligence and digital governance, frontier science and space innovation, startup ecosystems and investment strategies, economic resilience amid geopolitical uncertainty, and leadership in times of disruption. Speakers emphasised the need to balance innovation with responsibility and ensure that technological progress remains inclusive.

The summit concluded with a shared call for stronger collaboration between governments, industry and scientific institutions to guide the responsible use of emerging technologies and strengthen policy frameworks for artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and research-driven growth.

People interested in attending the ET NOW Global Business Summit can participate by registering as delegates through the event’s official platform. The summit is a ticketed, invite-driven conference primarily aimed at professionals, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers, and entry is granted only after prior registration and payment of the delegate fee, rather than through open public access.

Held on February 13 and 14, 2026, in New Delhi , the event reinforced India’s position as a hub for global conversations on technology, business and policy, as leaders outlined strategies for navigating the next phase of economic and technological transformation.