EPIC Foundation has announced a key leadership transition with industry veteran and HCL co-founder Arjun Malhotra assuming the role of Chairperson of the Foundation. Dr Ajai Chowdhry, who previously served as Chairperson, will now take on the role of Founder, continuing to guide the organisation’s long-term vision of making India a global leader in electronics hardware, semiconductor innovation and product development.
The transition marks a new phase for the Foundation as both leaders continue to work together to strengthen India’s electronics and semiconductor ecosystem. Their shared focus will remain on promoting indigenous innovation, expanding domestic manufacturing, encouraging intellectual property creation, supporting technology startups and fostering stronger collaboration between industry, government and academia. The Foundation also aims to improve market access for Indian companies and help build a self-reliant technology ecosystem capable of competing globally.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ajai Chowdhry said Arjun Malhotra’s journey reflects the values on which EPIC Foundation was established. He noted that the leadership transition is a natural progression at a time when India has both the talent and policy support to emerge as a global innovation hub. He added that Malhotra’s decades of experience in building successful technology enterprises and mentoring entrepreneurs would further strengthen the Foundation’s efforts to create an environment that encourages innovation and product development.
Arjun Malhotra, one of the pioneers of India’s information technology industry and co-founder of HCL, said his belief that India can create world-class technology products has remained unchanged for nearly five decades. He stated that the country’s next major opportunity lies in moving beyond technology adoption to designing and developing products that address domestic needs while competing successfully in international markets. He said his focus as Chairperson will be on building institutions, encouraging entrepreneurship, supporting indigenous product development and creating policies that enable Indian innovators to transform research into commercially successful products.
Under the new leadership structure, EPIC Foundation plans to deepen its contribution to India’s electronics, semiconductor and deep-tech sectors by supporting innovation-led manufacturing and strengthening the country’s technological capabilities. The organisation will continue working with stakeholders across government, academia and industry to accelerate the development of globally competitive products designed and manufactured in India.
Arjun Malhotra has been widely recognised for his contribution to technology, entrepreneurship and institution building. His honours include the Albert Einstein Technology Medal, the Dataquest Lifetime Achievement Award, recognition as an Eminent Engineering Personality by the Institution of Engineers (India), honorary doctorates from IIT Kharagpur and Punjab Technical University, and the One World One Family Global Leadership Award.
Established to position India as a global leader in electronics hardware product design and manufacturing, EPIC Foundation continues to promote indigenous product development, reduce dependence on imports and strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem. Through collaboration, research and entrepreneurship, the Foundation aims to create sustainable opportunities for Indian technology companies while supporting the nation’s vision of becoming a global product powerhouse.
