The Indian Navy is set to host the fifth edition of its flagship Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Seminar, Swavlamban 2026, on October 26 and 27 at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, with a focus on accelerating indigenous defence technologies and strengthening Aatmanirbharta.
The curtain-raiser press conference for the event was held in New Delhi on October 19 under the chairmanship of Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS).
Swavlamban has evolved since 2022 into a key platform connecting the Indian Navy’s operational requirements with the technological capabilities of Indian industry and academia. Addressing the media, the VCNS emphasised the need to transform emerging technologies into deployable systems capable of meeting the demands of modern naval warfare.
Highlighting the challenges of operating across vast maritime distances and undertaking prolonged deployments, he stressed the importance of reliable, indigenous technologies in enhancing combat readiness, operational flexibility and sustained capability development.
The two-day seminar will bring together innovators, start-ups, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), industry partners, academic institutions, investors and the Defence Forces to explore collaborative solutions to emerging maritime security challenges.
The exhibition will showcase indigenous innovations and technological success stories across key areas, including maritime surveillance, counter-unmanned aircraft systems (Counter-UAS), artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, nuclear, biological, chemical defence (NBCD), and safety and efficiency enhancement.
Engagements with venture capitalists and investors will be a major component of the event, facilitating discussions on funding opportunities, scaling up promising enterprises and commercialising indigenous technologies.
The seminar will also feature panel discussions involving MSMEs on self-reliance, strengthening the iDEX innovation ecosystem, building resilient supply chains and promoting academic entrepreneurship. Start-ups will have an opportunity to share their journeys and showcase their contributions to India’s defence innovation landscape.
Key releases during Swavlamban 2026 will include the Swavlamban 5.0 Document, the Compendium on Technology Imperatives, and the Naval Unified Systems, Ethernet and Tactical Utilisation (NAUSETU) Interface Standards.
The event aims to deepen collaboration between the Indian Navy and the country’s innovation ecosystem, accelerating the development and adoption of indigenous technologies to build a technologically advanced, self-reliant and future-ready naval force.
