EyeROV Impresses Global Leaders: Kochi Startup Showcases Underwater Drones at BRICS Summit
EyeROV impresses global leaders as the Kochi-based Indian deep-tech startup brought its indigenous underwater robotics technology into the spotlight at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The company’s pavilion at the Bharat Innovates Exposition was visited by several international leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The exposition, organised by India’s Ministry of Education alongside the BRICS Summit, featured deep-tech innovations from India’s research and startup ecosystem. EyeROV presented its remotely operated vehicle (ROV) technology, highlighting applications across underwater inspection, defence, maritime security and scientific research.
EyeROV Underwater Drones Attract Global Attention
EyeROV’s participation at the Bharat Innovates Exposition gave the Kochi startup an opportunity to demonstrate its underwater robotic systems to an international audience.
According to the company’s announcement, the EyeROV pavilion was visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The company’s co-founder and CEO, Johns T Mathai, demonstrated its ROV technology and explained how underwater robotic systems can be deployed in environments where conventional inspection methods can be difficult, costly or risky.
What EyeROV’s Technology Does
EyeROV develops remotely operated underwater vehicles designed to collect visual and inspection data without requiring divers to physically enter challenging underwater environments.
The technology can be used for examining structures such as dams, bridges, ports and offshore installations. The company also identifies defence, maritime security and marine research among its application areas.
Its systems are designed and developed in India, with the company describing its work as part of India’s growing capabilities in marine robotics and subsea technology.
EyeROV says its underwater robotic systems have already been deployed across defence, hydro, oil and gas, and maritime sectors in more than seven countries. Its inspection data can also be processed through its EVAP visualisation and analytics platform for structured reporting.
Bharat Innovates Exposition Highlights India’s Deep-Tech Ecosystem
The EyeROV showcase was part of a broader Bharat Innovates Exposition featuring 37 deep-tech innovations during the 18th BRICS Summit.
The exhibition included technologies spanning areas such as AI-enabled healthcare, floating solar power, marine robotics, electric mobility and advanced monitoring systems. The event was designed to connect innovations emerging from India’s higher-education ecosystem with global companies, investors and research institutions.
For startups such as EyeROV, the platform provides exposure beyond conventional startup and technology events by placing Indian innovations in front of international policymakers, business leaders and potential partners.
Why Underwater Robotics Matters
Underwater infrastructure plays a major role in transportation, energy, defence and industrial operations, but inspecting subsea structures can be technically challenging.
Ports, bridges, dams, pipelines and offshore installations may require regular monitoring for structural damage, corrosion and other problems. Remotely operated underwater robots can provide inspection capabilities while reducing the need for human divers to work in potentially hazardous environments.
This makes underwater robotics relevant not only to the maritime sector but also to infrastructure, energy, defence and scientific research.
EyeROV and India’s Indigenous Technology Push
EyeROV’s BRICS appearance also fits into a wider push to develop indigenous deep-tech capabilities in India.
The company’s own BRICS Summit profile says it designs and develops ROVs and unmanned surface vessels in India for underwater inspection, defence and marine research applications. It also positions the technology within India’s broader self-reliance and marine-technology ambitions.
The focus on domestically developed technology is particularly relevant as India expands its interest in deep technology, advanced manufacturing, defence technologies and the Blue Economy.
From Kochi to the Global Stage
EyeROV’s journey from Kochi’s startup ecosystem to an international exposition at the BRICS Summit illustrates the growing visibility of India’s specialised technology companies.
Unlike consumer-facing startups, deep-tech companies often operate in highly technical markets where products can require significant research, testing, specialised engineering and industry partnerships before reaching scale.
EyeROV’s appearance at Bharat Innovates therefore puts the spotlight on a category of Indian startups developing hardware-intensive technologies for specialised industrial applications.
BRICS Summit Creates a Wider Innovation Platform
The 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi brought together leaders from the expanded BRICS grouping, with innovation and cooperation forming part of India’s summit agenda. The summit’s broader theme was “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Against that backdrop, showcasing Indian deep-tech products such as underwater robotics offered a practical demonstration of the country’s technology ecosystem alongside the summit’s diplomatic discussions.
For startups, such platforms can potentially create opportunities for technical discussions, institutional partnerships and international visibility.
Looking Ahead
EyeROV’s appearance at the BRICS Summit puts India’s underwater robotics capabilities in front of a much wider international audience. The company’s focus on ROVs, unmanned marine systems and underwater inspection reflects the expanding role of robotics in infrastructure, defence, energy and marine research.
As India continues to build its deep-tech ecosystem, companies working on specialised technologies could become an increasingly visible part of the country’s innovation story. EyeROV’s BRICS showcase provides one example of how a Kochi-based startup is taking an Indian-developed marine technology platform to an international stage.
FAQs
1. What is EyeROV?
EyeROV is a Kochi-based Indian deep-tech company that develops underwater robotic systems, including remotely operated vehicles for inspection and marine applications.
2. What did EyeROV showcase at the BRICS Summit?
The company showcased its indigenous remotely operated vehicle technology at the Bharat Innovates Exposition in New Delhi.
3. Which leaders visited the EyeROV pavilion?
According to EyeROV, the pavilion was visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
4. What is an underwater ROV?
An underwater ROV, or remotely operated vehicle, is a robotic system controlled from outside the water and used for underwater inspection, observation, data collection and other marine operations.
5. Where is EyeROV based?
EyeROV is based in Kochi, Kerala.
6. Where can EyeROV’s underwater robots be used?
Potential applications include infrastructure inspection, defence, maritime security, offshore operations and scientific research.
7. What is the Bharat Innovates Exposition?
Bharat Innovates is an Indian innovation programme designed to connect deep-tech innovations with global companies, investors and research institutions. Its BRICS Summit edition featured multiple Indian deep-tech technologies.
8. Are EyeROV’s systems developed in India?
Yes. EyeROV states that it designs and develops its ROVs and unmanned surface vessels indigenously in India.
9. In which countries are EyeROV systems deployed?
EyeROV says its systems have been deployed across defence, hydro, oil and gas, and maritime sectors in more than seven countries.
10. Why is underwater robotics important for India?
Underwater robotics can support safer and more efficient inspection of subsea infrastructure while also contributing to defence, maritime security, offshore industries and marine research.
