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Tech Mahindra Foundation Hosts Zero Project Technology Forum Mumbai 2026 to Advance Assistive Technology for Persons with Disabilities.

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The Forum brought together assistive technology innovators, government, civil society and ecosystem partners to explore pathways for collaboration and scale.

Mumbai, September 7, 2026: Tech Mahindra Foundation (TMF) hosted the Zero Project Technology Forum Mumbai 2026, bringing together Assistive Technology (AT) innovators, government representatives, civil society organisations, philanthropy, companies and ecosystem partners to advance accessibility and disability inclusion through technology.

The Forum provided a platform for innovative assistive technology solutions to connect with potential support partners, enabling conversations around collaboration, adoption and scale. Hosted by Tech Mahindra Foundation, the Mumbai edition is part of the Zero Project Technology Forum’s expanding regional model, which connects local AT innovators with regional and global networks.

The Forum featured innovators from India and Japan, including Fifth Sense by Glovatrix, Mouseware by Dextroware Devices, Cognitii, Buddy Up Network, Vithara by Nexyuga Innovations, NeoMotion, SYNCREO by Raise the Flag, Shravan IVR Audio Library by NAB Delhi, Picstry AI by Datacluster Labs, and Udbhav Vision Foundation. The innovators presented their assistive technology solutions and engaged with support partners representing different parts of the disability, technology and innovation ecosystem.

Setting the context of the Zero Project Technology Forum, Chetan Kapoor, CEO, Tech Mahindra Foundation, highlighted the need for stronger cross-sector collaboration to advance disability inclusion at scale.

India’s diverse disability landscape requires us to move beyond standalone interventions. By embedding accessibility and inclusion into mainstream education, healthcare and development programmes, and through meaningful collaboration between government, CSR, NGOs, technology innovators and persons with disabilities, we can create impact at a much larger scale.

Highlighting the role of technology, Kapoor added,

Technology can play a transformative role in creating a more accessible future. Through The Ability Network, Tech Mahindra Foundation is strengthening connections across the disability ecosystem, bringing together solution providers, persons with disabilities, caregivers and other stakeholders. The Zero Project Technology Forum further advances this effort by connecting assistive technology innovators with those who can support adoption and scale. These innovations will also be featured on and amplified through The Ability Network, helping connect solutions with those who need them the most.

Ms. Manmeet Kaur Nanda, (IAS), Additional Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, GoI, in her keynote address shared,

We need assistive technology solutions that are responsive to different types of disabilities and can reach people across regions, including underserved and remote areas. For this, innovation must be affordable, accessible and scalable, while also being responsive to the individual needs of users. Building such an ecosystem will require continued collaboration between government, innovators, industry and civil society to ensure that the benefits of assistive technology reach every person who needs them. The need of today is hence not just AI as we know, but Accessible Intelligence – AI which is the best way to design anything today.

Michael Fembek, President, Zero Project International, shared,

The Zero Project Technology Forum is expanding to different regions because we believe that innovation for disability inclusion grows stronger when we learn from and support one another. Every region brings its own needs, expertise and innovative solutions, and we all have something to contribute. By connecting local ecosystems with global networks, we can help promising innovations reach more people and move closer to our shared vision of a world with zero barriers.

The Mumbai edition of the Forum brought together innovators with stakeholders who can support the growth and scaling of assistive technology innovations. It enabled curated networking and one-to-one interactions between innovators and support partners creating opportunities to explore partnerships and potential pathways for scaling promising solutions.

The Zero Project Technology Forum Mumbai 2026 reflected a shared commitment to creating a stronger connection between innovation and impact. By bringing together assistive technology innovators and the wider ecosystem, the forum catalysed conversations and partnerships that can contribute towards a more accessible and inclusive future for persons with disabilities.


About Tech Mahindra Foundation :
Tech Mahindra Foundation (TMF)
is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Tech Mahindra Limited, a Mahindra Group company. Since 2006, guided by the vision of Empowerment through Education, the Foundation has been driving impactful initiatives across education, employability and disability inclusion.

Through its programmes and partnerships, TMF works towards creating inclusive ecosystems and enabling greater access to opportunities for persons with disabilities.

About The Ability Network :
The Ability Network (TAN) is a Tech Mahindra Foundation initiative that seeks to create a collaborative and inclusive ecosystem for persons with disabilities and their caregivers. The ability network is accessible at abilitynetwork.in

About the Zero Project :
The Zero Project works towards a world with zero barriers. Worldwide, it identifies and shares innovative solutions that improve the daily lives and legal rights of persons with disabilities, in line with the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

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