New Delhi: The fifth edition of the Indian Navy’s flagship Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Seminar, Swavlamban 2026, will be held at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, on October 26-27, 2026 under the theme ‘Strength & Power through Innovation and Indigenisation’. The seminar will bring together the Armed Forces, industry, Start-ups, MSMEs, academia and investors to advance indigenous technological innovation and strengthen India’s defence self-reliance.
Since its inception in 2022, Swavlamban has evolved into a national platform connecting the Indian Navy’s operational requirements with the technological capabilities of Indian industry and academia. The initiative seeks to accelerate the journey from indigenous innovation to deployable operational capabilities, strengthening maritime preparedness and Aatmanirbharta.
A thematic exhibition will showcase indigenous innovations across Maritime Surveillance, Counter UAS, Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Technologies, NBCD and Safety, and Efficiency Enhancers, alongside success stories demonstrating the progression of products from ideation towards fruition.
The seminar will feature deliberations on future and emerging technologies, including quantum technologies, Artificial Intelligence, autonomous systems and hypersonic technologies, with a focus on their potential applications in future warfare and naval operations.
Dedicated sessions will also address strengthening self-reliance and the iDEX ecosystem, building resilient domestic supply chains, promoting academic entrepreneurship and enabling Start-ups to scale promising indigenous technologies. Engagements with investors and venture capitalists will provide opportunities to explore funding, scaling and commercialisation pathways for promising defence enterprises.
The plenary session of the seminar will be graced by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as the Chief Guest on October 26, 2026. The session will feature felicitation of industry partners by the defence minister in recognition of their contributions to defence innovation and indigenisation.
The occasion will also witness the release of the Swavlamban 5.0 document and the Compendium on Technology Imperatives, which will serve as important references for focused engagement on the Indian Navy’s technological priorities, operational requirements and opportunities for indigenous development.
The event is being organised by the Indian Navy in collaboration with the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM).
