Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC), 2025

Background

• Organiser: Department of Science and Technology (DST).

• Debut: November 3–4, 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

• Significance: Seen as a replacement for the Indian Science Congress (ISC), which has a legacy since pre-Independence but has been in decline.

• Indian Science Congress status:

• Last held in 2023 (108th edition) with PM Modi appearing only online.

• Not held in 2024–25 due to a spat between DST and the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), Kolkata.

• DST announced it would no longer fund ISCA.

• ESTIC: A serious platform for discussions on science, technology, and innovation (STI), unlike IISF which is more of a festival.

• Goal: Showcase cutting-edge research, deep-tech breakthroughs, and thought-provoking discussions.

• Vision: Aligning STI with Viksit Bharat 2047.

Key Features of ESTIC 2025

• Participants:

  • Nobel Laureate Andre Geim (2010, Physics – graphene discovery).

  • Jean-Yves Le Gall, former President of French Space Agency.

  • Masaru Tomita, Keio University, Japan.

• Ministries involved: Atomic Energy, Space, Information Technology, and all other science-related ministries.

India International Science Festival (IISF) vs ESTIC

• IISF:

  • Since 2015, nurtured by government.

  • Organised with Vijnana Bharti (RSS-linked).

  • Purpose: Popularise science among students/youth; more of a “mela”.

  • Venue 2025: Panjab University, Chandigarh.

  • Lacks Nobel Laureates, PM usually sends video message.

• ESTIC:

  • Policy-level conclave.

  • Global participation of scientists, Nobel Laureates.

  • PM’s direct presence.

  • Aims at scientific leadership, innovation ecosystem, Viksit Bharat 2047.