EPIC Foundation, the non-profit organisation focused on strengthening India’s electronics and semiconductor ecosystem, has announced a leadership transition with HCL co-founder Arjun Malhotra assuming the role of Chairperson. He succeeds Dr. Ajai Chowdhry, who will now serve as the Founder of the organisation.
The transition marks a new phase for the Foundation as it continues its mission of positioning India as a global hub for electronics hardware design, semiconductor manufacturing and indigenous technology innovation.
Leadership Transition to Drive India’s Product Ecosystem
Founded by technology pioneers Arjun Malhotra and Dr. Ajai Chowdhry, EPIC Foundation works towards building a self-reliant electronics ecosystem by promoting innovation, product development and manufacturing capabilities within India.
With the new leadership structure, both leaders will continue working together to strengthen India’s capabilities in:
- Semiconductor manufacturing
- Electronics hardware design
- Indigenous product innovation
- Intellectual property (IP) creation
- Technology sovereignty
- Startup ecosystem development
- Industry-academia-government collaboration
The Foundation aims to support India’s ambition of becoming a globally competitive product nation.
Focus on Indigenous Innovation
Speaking on the leadership transition, Dr. Ajai Chowdhry said the move represents a natural progression for the organisation as India enters a new phase of technology-led growth.
He highlighted Arjun Malhotra’s decades of experience in building globally competitive technology companies and mentoring entrepreneurs, describing it as valuable for shaping an ecosystem that encourages innovation and product development.
Building Products for India and the World
Accepting his new role, Arjun Malhotra said India’s next major opportunity lies in moving beyond technology adoption towards creating globally competitive products designed and developed within the country.
He said EPIC Foundation will focus on creating an ecosystem that encourages entrepreneurs to take risks, supports indigenous product development and helps innovative ideas move from research laboratories to commercial markets.
According to Malhotra, the Foundation will continue working towards building institutions, policies and capabilities that enable Indian engineers and entrepreneurs to develop solutions for both domestic and global markets.
A Pioneer of India’s Technology Industry
Arjun Malhotra is among the pioneers of India’s information technology industry, having co-founded HCL in 1975, helping establish one of India’s earliest indigenous technology companies.
Over the decades, he has received several national and international recognitions for his contributions to technology and entrepreneurship, including the Albert Einstein Technology Medal, the Dataquest Lifetime Achievement Award, honorary doctorates from IIT Kharagpur and Punjab Technical University, and the One World One Family Global Leadership Award.
Strengthening India’s Electronics Future
EPIC Foundation said it will continue working with industry, government, academia and startups to strengthen India’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem, accelerate semiconductor capabilities and promote innovation-led economic growth.
The organisation remains committed to supporting India’s vision of becoming a leading global destination for electronics products, deep-tech innovation and advanced manufacturing.
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