Innovate UK is set to help entrepreneurs and small businesses break into the multi-billion euro connected cities market in India.

11 successful entrepreneurs will join the Connected Cities Entrepreneurs’ Mission to India. This major UK-India initiative is taking place between 6-12 November.

Delegates will attend the India-UK Tech Summit in the Indian capital New Delhi. They will also visit Pune and Kochi, where they’ll have the chance to pitch to potential customers, partners and investors.

Ruth McKernan, Innovate UK chief executive, said: “It is vital that UK innovators look to engage globally in developing new partnerships and market opportunities. The size of the opportunity from the Indian smart cities market is immense with £24bn (~€27bn) investment expected across 100 cities over the next five to seven years.

“UK small businesses are very well placed to take advantage of this market, and this is why we are running our next entrepreneurs’ mission to India and the India-UK Tech Summit.”

The mission is a joint initiative between Innovate UK, the Department for International Trade (DIT), Enterprise Europe Network, and the Future Cities Catapult. It will form part of a series of UK-India missions organised by DIT to tie in with the India-UK Tech Summit.

Peter Madden, CEO at Future Cities Catapult, said: “At Future Cities Catapult we support high growth businesses to innovate city-wide solutions.

“By supporting UK entrepreneurs to participate in Indian trade missions, we’re increasing the export potential of these UK SMEs and at the same time helping Indian cities tackle the challenges of a rapid urbanisation.”