Key Highlights

  • Inauguration on Tuesday: PM Narendra Modi will open the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on Tuesday evening.
  • Three days, 12 themes: From October 27 to 29, discussions will cover AI, biotechnology, advanced materials, manufacturing, healthcare, energy, climate and ocean sciences.
  • Startup showcase: Around 150 deep-tech startup stalls will display indigenous technologies and their applications across sectors.
  • ISRO's big reveal: A model of a proposed next-generation heavy-lift launch vehicle, capable of placing over 30,000 kg in low Earth orbit, will be exhibited along with the Chandrayaan 4 and 5 projects.
  • Global Connect debut: More than 300 invited participants from India and abroad will explore research partnerships and lab-to-market pathways.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2026 at Bharat Mandapam on Tuesday evening, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office. The three-day event, running from October 27 to 29, will bring scientists, researchers, academicians, policymakers, industry leaders, startups and international experts under one roof to shape India's science and technology priorities.

What sets this edition apart is its clear focus on outcomes. Rather than limiting itself to academic debate, the conclave aims to connect research with real-world use, a gap that has long troubled India's innovation story. Deliberations will span 12 thematic areas, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, advanced materials, manufacturing, healthcare, energy, and climate and ocean sciences, with discussions centred on research priorities, national capabilities and turning scientific advances into practical applications.

ISRO's Heavy-Lift Ambition and the Startup Push

The biggest draw for visitors is likely to be ISRO's pavilion. Speaking at a curtain-raiser event, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said the space agency's exhibition will feature a model of a proposed next-generation heavy-lift launch vehicle that can place payloads weighing over 30,000 kg into low Earth orbit. The Chandrayaan 4 and 5 projects, which, as described at the event, envisage sending Indian astronauts to the Moon, will also be showcased.

For India's space programme, a 30-tonne-class rocket would mark a major step up in capability, opening the door to larger satellites, heavier scientific missions and the infrastructure needed for long-term human spaceflight. Putting this vision in front of policymakers, industry and the public signals that India's space roadmap is moving firmly from planning towards execution.

Equally important is the startup presence. Around 150 deep-tech startup stalls will highlight technological developments and their potential applications across sectors. For young companies working in hardware-heavy and research-intensive fields, which often struggle to find investors and buyers, a national platform with direct access to government and industry can be a turning point. The exhibition will further use thematic videos, technology demonstrations, documentaries, informational kiosks and augmented and virtual reality experiences to make complex science accessible to a wider audience.

Why It Matters for Viksit Bharat 2047

A new initiative, the Global Connect Networking Event, will bring together more than 300 invited participants from academia, research institutions and industry in India and abroad. It will serve as a platform to explore international research partnerships, industry-academia collaboration and pathways for moving innovations from laboratories to markets. This addresses one of the most persistent criticisms of India's research ecosystem: strong output in papers and patents, but slower commercial translation.

The conclave is organised by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under the guidance of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government. ESTIC 2026 aims to strengthen India's science, technology and innovation ecosystem in support of the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

The real test of ESTIC 2026 will come after the closing session on October 29: whether the partnerships formed, startups showcased and missions unveiled at Bharat Mandapam turn into funded projects, working products and launches in the years ahead.