Governor Gianforte Promotes Montana Innovation, Investment on India Trade Mission

Governor's Office

DELHI, India - Governor Greg Gianforte today continued Montana's trade mission to India, meeting with technology companies, investors, manufacturers, and business leaders to promote Montana's growing industries and attract new investment to the Treasure State to create jobs for Montanans.

"As our conversations continue in India, we are expanding opportunity for our leading industries beyond agriculture and making meaningful connections with successful entrepreneurs and business leaders ready to partner on the innovations of tomorrow," Gov. Gianforte said. "We're showing investors and businesses in India why the Treasure State should be part of their next big idea.

Gov. Gianforte, First Landy Gianforte meeting with Nasscom in New Delhi

Gov. Gianforte began the day at a business roundtable hosted by Nasscom, India's leading technology industry association, meeting with startups and large companies working in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, and other emerging technologies.

Nasscom represents over 3,000 companies of India's $315 billion technology industry that works across industry, government, and academia. Aligning interests in Montana, the governor and trade mission delegates highlighted the state's established optics, photonics, and quantum ecosystem and opportunities for Indian technology companies to collaborate with Montana businesses, researchers, and universities.

Montana has the highest per-capita concentrations of optics and photonics companies and research institutions in the United States. Through Montana State University (MSU), the state has invested in building an applied quantum ecosystem around QCORE, providing researchers and industry with hands-on access to multiple quantum computing technologies and test infrastructure. In the meeting, MSU President Brock Tessman noted how these technologies are available to private companies interested in exploring collaborative research and prototype opportunities.

Supporting Montana's growing photonics industry, the state in 2024 was designated as one of 31 inaugural regional technology and innovation hubs in the U.S., establishing the federally designated Headwaters Tech Hub which received approximately $41 million in federal funding to build out a regional photonics product-development supply chain and strengthen Montana's capacity to move new technologies from research to commercialization.

Montana's broader technology industry is also driving economic growth. In a new report released by the Montana High Tech Business Alliance, the sector generates nearly $8 billion in annual revenue, contributes approximately $4.4 billion to Montana's economy, and supports more than 38,000 jobs across the state.

Later in the day, the governor joined the Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA) for a working lunch with Indian fund managers and investors focused on Montana's bioscience, agricultural technology, deep tech, and photonics industries. With over 490 members, IVCA has contributed a combined investment exceeding $350 billion.

Approaching the discussion based on his experience as an entrepreneur, Gov. Gianforte and the delegation focused on connecting capital with Montana entrepreneurs, researchers, universities, and emerging companies to help new technologies move from research to commercialization. The group had a particular interest in the tech industry, bioscience, and the opportunities that exist with Montana's Right to Try law for investments in pharmaceutical clinical trials.

In 2025, Gov. Gianforte announced Montana was ranked as the best state for business startups. According to data reported by Entrepreneur Media, Montana was ranked number one with the highest score for the total number of startups in the state, the number of startups per capita, and the 10-year survival rate of startups.

Montana's growing innovation economy is also gaining national recognition. In December 2025, Bozeman was selected as the location for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Northwest Frontier Community Engagement Office, providing entrepreneurs, researchers, and inventors throughout Montana and the region greater access to resources related to patents, trademarks, and intellectual property.

The governor concluded the day in Delhi with the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC), meeting with business leaders to discuss biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, critical and emerging technologies, supply chains, and opportunities for Indian companies to invest in Montana.

During the discussion, the governor highlighted Montana's strong economic environment, with the state recently ranking as the fifth-fastest-growing economy in the nation. From 2021 to 2025, Montana's real gross domestic product grew 16.1 percent, outpacing national economic growth during the same period.

The delegation also highlighted Montana's strengths in energy, agriculture, and aerospace, industries where Montana and India already share opportunities for greater cooperation.

Agriculture is a $6.22 billion industry in Montana, and the state is the nation's leading producer of peas, lentils, and chickpeas. In 2025, India purchased approximately $3.3 million in Montana pulse crops.

Aerospace is another growing connection. In 2025, India purchased approximately $6.9 million in commercial aircraft parts from Montana, an all-time high and making India Montana's sixth-largest market for the product. Boeing has operated a manufacturing facility in Helena for years, producing complex titanium and hard-metal components for aircraft including the 787-10 and 777X.

Montana is also seeing significant new investment in advanced manufacturing. Janicki Industries is developing an $800 million manufacturing campus in Great Falls, expected to create approximately 1,000 jobs within five years and more than 2,000 jobs at full build out. Montana's bioscience sector is similarly attracting global investment. GlaxoSmithKline has invested more than $100 million to expand manufacturing capabilities at its Hamilton facility, where it produces components for vaccine adjuvant systems.

"We didn't come to India just to exchange business cards. We came to build business," Gov. Gianforte said. "A new investment, a new research partnership, or a Montana company reaching a new market means more opportunity back home."

The governor tomorrow will continue his trade mission in Bengaluru.

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