IIST celebrated the National Technology Day on May 13, 2026, centred on the theme "Responsible Innovation for Inclusive Growth."

In the morning session, Prof. Dipankar Banerjee, Vice Chancellor, IIST, addressed a group of students from selected colleges and schools who were invited to attend the celebration and explore the campus facilities.

The Chief Guest of the day, Dr Usha Titus IAS (Retd.), Chairperson and MD of ASAP, Kerala, inaugurated the National Technology Day celebrations in the afternoon. Prof. Dipankar Banerjee presided over the function. Prof. Kuruvilla Joseph, Pro Vice Chancellor, IIST, welcomed the gathering and spoke about the significance of National Technology Day in the context of India’s growing strategic and technological capabilities. He recalled the role of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, whose leadership during the May 1998 Pokhran-II tests served as the primary catalyst for the annual celebration of National Technology Day. Referring to national achievements, he emphasised the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and the importance of transforming research from ‘paper to product’.

The Vice Chancellor emphasised the theme of the National Technology Day, highlighting India’s progress in indigenous technologies, semiconductors, and Quantum Mission initiatives. He underscored the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and stressed the importance of collaboration among academia, government, industry, and society to build a sustainable, innovation-driven, and globally competitive ecosystem for national development.

In her National Technology Day lecture, Dr Usha Titus highlighted the importance of research-driven innovation in realising the national visions of Viksit Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat. She also shared the need for a necessary shift from "Paper to Product," urging the academic community to transform theoretical research into tangible technologies. Her talk covered a wide array of cutting-edge sectors, including Ethical AI, the Quantum Mission initiatives, deep-tech innovation, the start-up ecosystem, and green energy-efficient systems. By focusing on the intersection of public-private collaboration and sustainable advancement, she illustrated how trustworthy technologies can bolster the economy while advancing space, defence, and healthcare sectors. The lecture concluded with a powerful call to action for the younger generation of researchers to " think out of the box" and pursue innovation with both national relevance and global impact.

The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Prof. Nirmala Rachel James, Dean (R&D), IIST and the National Anthem.