DRDO to lead Semiconductors & Next-Gen Chips session at ESTIC-2026
Synopsis
DRDO is stepping beyond its traditional role as a defence user to actively shape India's semiconductor future. At ESTIC-2026 in New Delhi, it will convene chip makers, AI hardware specialists, and top academics — a rare tri-sector convergence that could set the agenda for India's indigenous microelectronics strategy just as global supply-chain battles intensify.
Key Takeaways
DRDO will lead a thematic session on 'Semiconductors and Next-Gen Chips' at ESTIC-2026 in New Delhi from 27–29 October 2026 .
The conclave is jointly organised by 12 ministries under the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government .
Speakers include the VP & MD of Micron India , the CEO of Bharat Semi , the CEO of Netrasemi , and the Director of IIT Madras .
Das highlighted semiconductors as critical to economic competitiveness, digital sovereignty, and national security at a Bengaluru curtain-raiser on 13 October .
DRDO's outreach stall will showcase indigenous tech including quantum prototypes, exoskeletons, scramjet engine technology , and the PRABALA body protector.
The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) will spearhead a dedicated thematic session on 'Semiconductors and Next-Gen Chips' at the Emerging Science, Technology & Innovation Conclave (ESTIC-2026), scheduled to be held in New Delhi from 27 to 29 October 2026. The announcement was made through an official Defence Ministry statement on Tuesday, 13 October.
About ESTIC-2026
The conclave is being jointly organised by 12 ministries under the guidance of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government. It is positioned as a significant national initiative aimed at strengthening Aatmanirbharta — self-reliance — through science, technology, and innovation. The multi-ministry convergence signals the government's intent to treat emerging technology as a whole-of-government priority rather than a siloed departmental concern.
What the DRDO Session Will Cover
The DRDO-led session will bring together senior voices from industry, academia, the indigenous chip-development ecosystem, and defence electronics. The programme will open with a keynote address by the Vice President & Managing Director of Micron India, followed by talks from the CEO of Bharat Semi, the CEO of Netrasemi, and the Director of IIT Madras.
Topics on the agenda include key advances in semiconductor technologies, purpose-built AI system-on-chips, intelligence at the silicon edge, and the evolving microprocessor landscape. The session is expected to surface actionable pathways on semiconductor fabrication, chip design, AI computing, indigenous semiconductor platforms, and strategic defence applications.
Strategic Significance for India's Chip Ambitions
Director General, Electronics and Communication Systems, B.K. Das, presided over a curtain-raiser event organised by DRDO in Bengaluru on Tuesday. Das underscored the importance of semiconductors and next-generation chips for economic competitiveness, digital sovereignty, and national security. He stressed that building an end-to-end, resilient microelectronics ecosystem is essential to powering telecommunications, automotive systems, industrial automation, AI hardware, and strategic defence platforms as India advances towards Viksit Bharat.
This comes amid a broader global scramble for semiconductor supply-chain security, with India having already announced a ₹76,000 crore semiconductor mission and approved its first chip fabrication units. DRDO's involvement signals that the defence establishment is now a primary stakeholder — not just an end-user — in shaping India's chip strategy.
DRDO Outreach Stall and Technology Showcase
Beyond the session, DRDO will operate a dedicated Outreach Stall at ESTIC-2026 showcasing the Defence Ministry's key initiatives, research programmes, and indigenous technologies. Exhibits will include advanced communication systems, quantum technology prototypes, extreme-cold-weather clothing, the PRABALA female full-body protector, passive and powered exoskeletons, portable hybrid energy management systems, high-power pulse laser diodes, and scramjet engine technology.
The stall aims to foster collaboration among academia, industry, start-ups, and research institutions, while also enhancing public awareness of the Ministry's role in advancing India's scientific and technological capabilities.
What to Expect Next
The ESTIC-2026 conclave, running across three days from 27 October, is expected to produce concrete collaboration frameworks between the defence establishment and the private semiconductor sector. With indigenous chip design and fabrication high on the national agenda, the outcomes of the DRDO session could directly inform future policy and procurement decisions in the coming months.
Point of View
Indigenisation in defence electronics was aspirational; now, with Micron's India operations running and Bharat Semi active, there are actual industry partners to convene. The real test is whether the 'collaboration frameworks' that conclaves typically produce translate into procurement orders and co-development contracts. India's semiconductor mission is well-funded on paper; its execution gap remains the credibility question that events like ESTIC must move beyond rhetoric to address.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ESTIC-2026 and when is it being held?
ESTIC-2026, the Emerging Science, Technology & Innovation Conclave, is a national multi-ministry event scheduled in New Delhi from 27 to 29 October 2026. It is jointly organised by 12 ministries under the guidance of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government, and is aimed at advancing Aatmanirbharta through science and technology.
Why is DRDO leading a session on semiconductors at ESTIC-2026?
DRDO is leading the session to consolidate dialogue between defence, industry, and academia on building an indigenous semiconductor and chip-design ecosystem. Director General B.K. Das emphasised that a resilient microelectronics supply chain is essential for defence platforms, AI hardware, and digital sovereignty as India pursues Viksit Bharat.
Who are the key speakers at the DRDO semiconductor session?
The session will feature a keynote by the Vice President & Managing Director of Micron India, followed by addresses from the CEO of Bharat Semi, the CEO of Netrasemi, and the Director of IIT Madras. The panel represents a cross-section of global chip manufacturing, indigenous design, and academic research.
What technologies will DRDO showcase at ESTIC-2026?
DRDO's outreach stall will display a range of indigenous technologies including quantum technology prototypes, advanced communication systems, the PRABALA female full-body protector, passive and powered exoskeletons, portable hybrid energy management systems, high-power pulse laser diodes, and scramjet engine technology.
How does ESTIC-2026 connect to India's broader semiconductor strategy?
The conclave comes as India accelerates its semiconductor mission, which has already approved its first chip fabrication projects with a ₹76,000 crore outlay. DRDO's active participation signals that the defence sector intends to be a demand anchor and co-developer — not just an end-buyer — in shaping the domestic chip ecosystem.
