The Indian Navy will organise 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. The seminar will build on the Navy’s efforts to translate indigenous technological innovations into operational capabilities and strengthen ‘Aatmanirbharta’.
It will bring together innovators, industry partners, startups, MSMEs, academia, investors, and the Defence Forces to explore collaborative solutions to emerging maritime security challenges and provide a dynamic platform for deliberations on future and emerging technologies with the potential to enhance naval operations and strengthen India’s maritime capabilities.
Seminar to Focus on Emerging Maritime Technologies
The curtain-raiser press conference for Swavlamban 2026 was held in New Delhi on October 19 under the chairmanship of Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. According to the Ministry of Defence, the seminar will provide a platform to explore collaborative solutions to emerging maritime security challenges.
Addressing the media, Vice Admiral Kochhar said Swavlamban, since its inception in 2022, has helped connect the Indian Navy’s operational requirements with the technological capabilities of Indian industry and academia. Highlighting the changing nature of modern warfare, he stressed the need to develop niche technologies into deployable systems. He also underscored the importance of reliable indigenous technologies in ensuring combat readiness, operational flexibility and sustained capability enhancement during prolonged naval deployments.
Indigenous Innovations and Investment Opportunities
The exhibition at ‘Swavlamban’ 2026 will showcase indigenous innovations and technology success stories across key areas, including maritime surveillance, counter-unmanned aircraft systems (Counter-UAS), artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, nuclear, biological, chemical and damage control (NBCD), and safety and efficiency enhancement.
Engagements with venture capitalists and investors will form a key part of the seminar, facilitating discussions on funding opportunities, scaling promising enterprises and commercialising indigenous technologies.
Startups, MSMEs and Academia to Explore Collaborative Solutions
The seminar will feature panel discussions with small and medium enterprises on self-reliance and strengthening the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) ecosystem. The sessions will also focus on building resilient supply chains, fostering academic entrepreneurship and highlighting the journeys of startups.
The event will provide a platform to deliberate on future and emerging technologies that can enhance naval operations and strengthen India’s maritime capabilities.
Key Documents and Interface Standards to Be Released
‘Swavlamban’ 2026 will also witness the release of the ‘Swavlamban 5.0’ Document, the Compendium on Technology Imperatives and the Naval Unified Systems, Ethernet and Tactical Utilisation (NAUSETU) Interface Standards.
The seminar aims to deepen collaboration between the Indian Navy and India’s innovation ecosystem, aligning indigenous technological development with the evolving requirements of modern warfare and building a future-ready naval force.
-PIB Inputs
