Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, today disclosed that ESTIC-2026 (Emerging Science, Technology & Innovation Conclave) will be held from 27–29 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam with inauguration by PM Shri Narendra Modi and the eminent faculty will include three Nobel Laureates, Prof. Joachim Frank, Sir Richard J. Roberts and Prof. Kostya Novoselov, in addition to several international award winning speakers.

Addressing the Curtain Raiser of ESTIC-2026, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that with science and technology evolving at unprecedented speed, the ecosystem must increasingly draw upon expertise from management, communication and other domains alongside scientific capabilities.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said ESTIC was conceived last year as part of a new approach to bring together multiple components of the science and technology ecosystem on a common platform rather than having several fragmented events throughout the year. He said the Conclave provides an opportunity for closer interaction among researchers, innovators, Startups, entrepreneurs, industry and policymakers, with the objective of creating a more integrated ecosystem for science and technology.

The Minister said, time has come for breaking institutional silos and creating stronger linkages between scientific research, Startups, industry, markets and society to accelerate innovation and translate India’s scientific capabilities into wider economic and societal impact.

Dr Jitendra Singh said the theme of ESTIC-2026: “Creative Minds, Catalyzing Science, Empowering Technologies”, captures the importance of creativity and imagination in scientific innovation. Dr. Singh said creativity and imagination strengthen innovative capabilities, while an enabling ecosystem is necessary to translate ideas into meaningful outcomes.

Referring to India’s startup growth, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the country had around 350-400 Startups in 2014, whereas the number has now crossed 2.3 lakh, making India the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. He said more than 50-60 per cent of Startups are now coming from small towns and not metros, reflecting the widening reach of entrepreneurship and innovation across the country. He said such emerging Startups deserve greater access to experts, entrepreneurs, business leaders and markets to scale up.

The Minister said future editions of ESTIC could bring in management and communication institutions more extensively. Management expertise can help Startups and potential entrepreneurs develop strategies for market access, while communication expertise can help take scientific achievements to young people and wider sections of society through the language and mediums they understand.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said the Government’s efforts to create such an enabling ecosystem include initiatives such as the National Research Foundation and the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund. He said the convergence of different ministries and stakeholders can help strengthen the journey from research and innovation to technology development, entrepreneurship and market applications.

The Minister also referred to India’s recent achievements in emerging areas of science and technology, including the Deep Ocean Mission and the country’s expanding focus on the blue economy. Referring to the launch of India’s first indigenous research vessel, he said India is now moving in a major way to explore the opportunities offered by the blue economy. He also cited achievements in space and biotechnology as examples of the scale of India’s expanding scientific capabilities.

Calling for continuity beyond the three-day Conclave, Dr. Singh asked the scientific advisory and organising teams to prepare a roadmap with short-term and long-term milestones based on the deliberations and learnings of ESTIC. He said the experience of one edition should feed into the next and that inter-ministerial efforts should continue so that the Conclave does not become an isolated annual event.

Dr. Jitendra Singh also called for greater awareness among young innovators about procedures related to startup registration, patents and other innovation processes. He said many potential entrepreneurs may possess ideas and capabilities but remain unfamiliar with the procedures required to take their innovations forward, and that easier access to such information can help unlock this potential.

Speaking about the rapidly evolving technology landscape, particularly Artificial Intelligence, the Minister said technology is increasingly becoming a facilitator for young people to create new possibilities, rather than merely seek opportunities created by technology. He said ESTIC should become an event of interest to every generation and segment of society, particularly the youth.

The Curtain Raiser was attended by Prof. Ajay K. Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India; Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and Director General, CSIR; Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology; Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology; and Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, besides senior officials and representatives of participating ministries and departments.

Prof. Ajay K. Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, said ESTIC-2026 builds on the success of its inaugural edition, which brought together 13 ministries, leading institutions, industry partners and more than 5,000 delegates. He said the Conclave embodies a whole-of-government approach and brings together young innovators, policymakers, institutions and industry around a common national vision, with 12 thematic areas covering important emerging opportunities for India.

Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary, DSIR & Director General, CSIR, said CSIR has taken up the responsibility of organising ESTIC-2026, with CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, as the nodal laboratory, and 13 ministries joining hands for the initiative. She said the Conclave will strengthen coordination across the science, technology and innovation ecosystem and contribute to the national objective of building Viksit Bharat by 2047.

ESTIC-2026, organised by CSIR under the guidance of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, with CSIR-NIIST as the organising partner, will bring together Nobel laureates and global scientific leaders, deep-tech Startups, women entrepreneurs, young scientists and researchers, industry leaders, policymakers and representatives from academia, PSUs and R&D institutions.

The three-day Conclave will feature plenary talks, 12 thematic technical sessions, panel discussions, presentations by science and technology leaders and deep-tech Startups, exhibitions, poster presentations and B2B/B2G connect meetings. The thematic areas span emerging fields including advanced manufacturing, energy technologies, synthetic biology, ocean and maritime technologies, quantum communication, semiconductors, agri-tech, generative and autonomous AI, robotics, advanced healthcare, immersive technologies and space science.

Three Nobel laureates: Prof. Joachim Frank, Sir Richard J. Roberts and Prof. Kostya Novoselov, are among the eminent scientific personalities participating in ESTIC-2026. The Conclave will also feature a technology-oriented exhibition showcasing India’s emerging startup and deep-tech ecosystem, which will be open to the public from the second day.

ESTIC-2026 will be held from 27–29 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India will inaugurate ESTIC-2026 on 27 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Registration is open and will close on 15 September 2026.

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NKR/AK