SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Institutions: Ministry of Science and Technology
The Emerging Science & Technology Innovation Conclave (ESTIC 2025) featured PitchX @ ESTIC 2025, a high-profile event that brought together over 20 promising DeepTech startups and leading investors. The conclave underscored India’s strategy to translate advanced scientific research into scalable market solutions and accelerate its DeepTech revolution.
Union Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, used the platform to emphasize the importance of early industry linkages and sustained investor engagement. He also underscored the new ₹1 lakh crore RDI Scheme to incentivise private participation; DST (Department of Science and Technology) and TDB (Technology Development Board) will soon deploy initial investments to back sunrise sectors.
The showcased startups represented frontier sectors critical to national development and security, including Space & Defence, Quantum Technologies, Cybersecurity, Health & Life Sciences, Semiconductors, and AI.
The event reflected the government’s commitment to nurturing an ecosystem driven by research excellence, IP creation, and global competitiveness. The event also spotlighted women entrepreneurs, symbolizing India’s inclusive approach to technology-led enterprise.
An event like PitchX also demonstrates the government’s strategy of actively de-risking deep science innovation by providing the necessary initial capital and market validation to attract private venture capital. By featuring startups nominated by various Ministries, the event signifies a coordinated, “whole-of-government” commitment to nurturing specific frontier sectors that accelerate India’s growth towards Viksit Bharat.
What is DeepTech and what role does it play in India’s industrial policy?→ DeepTech refers to technological innovation rooted in profound scientific discoveries or complex engineering challenges. It involves long research and development cycles and creates high barriers to entry. For India’s industrial policy, DeepTech is key to achieving self-reliance in strategic sectors (like Quantum Technologies and Semiconductors) and generating high-value, IP-driven growth.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will the operational framework of the ₹1 Lakh Crore RDI Scheme specifically ensure long-term, patient capital reaches deep-science ventures and not just near-market technologies, thereby minimizing risk for private investors?
Follow the full news here: PitchX @ ESTIC 2025 Ignites India’s DeepTech Future with ₹1 Lakh Crore RDI Scheme