New technology, innovation conclave to ‘replace’ Science Congress to be held in November

Signalling a break from the previous, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) is ready to organise the first-ever Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) in November.

ESTIC might ‘replace’ the Indian Science Congress, the oldest congregation of scientists in India with a wealthy historical past predating Independence. Over the years, it has gone into oblivion, with the final being held in 2023.

“You could see it as a replacement of the Indian Science Congress,” a senior official informed The Hindu.

Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, DST, didn’t reply to a request for clarification on whether or not ESTIC will certainly change the Science Congress.

Since 2015, the federal government has nurtured the India International Science Festival (IISF) that’s organised by the science-related departments. It has amongst its organisers Vijnana Bharti – a science popularisation outfit affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

“The IISF is more of a festival, a ‘mela’ (fair), and meant to popularise science among students and young people. It is not a forum where scientists and technologists can discuss bigger themes of science, technology and innovation,” mentioned the official.

This 12 months, the IISF is predicted to be held on the Panjab University, Chandigarh.

The IISF doesn’t normally see participation by worldwide Nobel Laureates, nor does Prime Minister Narendra Modi go to it in particular person. However, he has made digital appearances or despatched video messages for the IISF.

The ESTIC web site says that Mr. Modi is predicted to be current at its inaugural session.

Traditionally, the Indian Science Congress, organised by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), Kolkata, and funded by the DST and held in the primary week of January, has at all times had the Prime Minister on the inaugural. However, the final time Prime Minister Modi appeared in particular person was on the 107^th Science Congress at Lovely Professional University, Ludhiana, in 2020. The following two years, the occasion was not held citing the pandemic.

In 2023, Mr. Modi made an look, however solely on-line, on the 108^th version held on the Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj University in Nagpur. In 2024 and this 12 months, the Science Congress was not held due to a spat between DST and ISCA’s government physique over the organisation of the occasion. DST has mentioned that it will now not fund ISCA.

The inaugural ESTIC will be held on the Bharat Mandapam right here from November 3-4. All the science-related Ministries, starting from atomic power to house and knowledge know-how, will be concerned in it.

According to the ESTIC web site, there’ll be 11 thematic technical classes and 75 exhibition stalls by ‘deep tech’ startups on the occasion. Nobel Laureate Andre Geim (2010, Physics) is predicted to make an look. Jean-Yves Le Gall, former president of the French Space Agency, and Professor Masaru Tomita, Keio University, Japan, are among the many overseas dignitaries anticipated.

In a gathering earlier this week, Science Minister Jitendra Singh mentioned that ESTIC will “showcase cutting-edge research, deep-tech breakthroughs, and thought-provoking discussions, igniting a new era of scientific leadership towards Viksit Bharat 2047.”