ESTIC-2026 Science Conclave Announcement
The Ministry of Science & Technology announced that ESTIC-2026 (Emerging Science, Technology & Innovation Conclave) will be held from 27–29 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, with inauguration by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The event will feature three Nobel Laureates—Prof. Joachim Frank, Sir Richard J. Roberts, and Prof. Kostya Novoselov—along with several international award-winning speakers. Registration for the conclave is open and will close on 15 September 2026.
Startup Ecosystem Growth and Regional Distribution
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh revealed significant growth in India's startup ecosystem, which has expanded from approximately 350-400 startups in 2014 to over 2.3 lakh startups currently, making India the world's third-largest startup ecosystem. Notably, 50-60% of startups now originate from small towns rather than metros, indicating the widening geographical distribution of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country.
Conclave Objectives and Thematic Focus
ESTIC-2026 aims to break institutional silos and create stronger linkages between scientific research, startups, industry, markets, and society. The conclave will feature 12 thematic technical sessions covering 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. The event will include plenary talks, panel discussions, presentations, exhibitions, poster presentations, and B2B/B2G connect meetings.
Government Initiatives and Ecosystem Development
The government is supporting the innovation ecosystem through initiatives such as the National Research Foundation and the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund. Dr. Singh emphasized the need for greater integration of management and communication expertise with scientific capabilities to help startups develop market strategies and communicate scientific achievements to wider audiences. The minister also highlighted India's recent achievements in emerging areas including the Deep Ocean Mission, blue economy exploration, space technology, and biotechnology.
Organizational Structure and Participation
ESTIC-2026 is organized by CSIR under the guidance of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, with CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, as the nodal laboratory. The event involves collaboration across 13 ministries and will bring together Nobel laureates, deep-tech startups, women entrepreneurs, young scientists, researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, academia, PSUs, and R&D institutions. The technology-oriented exhibition will be open to the public from the second day of the conclave.
Future Roadmap and Continuity
Dr. Singh called for the development of a roadmap with short-term and long-term milestones based on ESTIC deliberations, ensuring that the conclave does not become an isolated annual event but rather feeds into ongoing inter-ministerial efforts. He also emphasized the need for greater awareness among young innovators about startup registration procedures, patents, and innovation processes to help unlock their potential.