May 11, 2026

Orchestrating tech-innovation on ‘National Technology Day’

By Jitendra Singh

As India advances towards 2047, Science, Technology and Innovation will continue to play an increasingly important role in catalysing economic growth, strategic autonomy, societal transformation, and a sustainable future

National Technology Day — ‘Tech’, celebrated on May 11, commemorates India’s landmark technological achievement marked by the successful Pokhran nuclear tests of 1998. The occasion also highlights the nation’s enduring commitment to scientific innovation, technological advancement, and the synergy between science, society, and industry in shaping India’s development journey.

Over the last decade, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s technological ecosystem has witnessed unprecedented growth, marked by rapid innovation, expanding digital infrastructure, and significant advancements across emerging sectors. There has been a greater emphasis on self-reliance and the translation of scientific innovations into real-world impact. Considerable progress has been made in frontier technology-driven areas such as quantum communication, space, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, renewable energy, and climate-resilient systems. Biomanufacturing is a key technology for Viksit Bharat, enabling sustainable innovation, healthcare resilience, and a strong bioeconomy through the production of high-value biologics, vaccines, fuels, and materials using biological systems. India’s success with the Chandrayaan-3 mission and recent milestones, such as the attainment of criticality in the indigenous Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam, further highlight the country’s progress in strategic sectors and its commitment to long-term technological sovereignty.

This progress is also reflected in various key national metrics. India has significantly improved its position in the Global Innovation Index released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), rising from 81st in 2015 to 38th in 2025. The number of patents granted in the country has increased from a few thousand in 2014-15 to around 1.5 lakh in 2025. India’s startup ecosystem has also expanded significantly, with more than 1.5 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups across sectors, including nearly fifteen thousand working in emerging technology domains such as AI, robotics, and additive manufacturing. The transformation is further evident in the expansion of renewable energy capacity to over 250 GW of non-fossil sources and the growth of the bioeconomy from $10 billion to $195 billion in a decade.

Policy reforms implemented by the Government over the past decade have played a crucial role in this transformation. These include the rapid expansion of the startup and incubation ecosystem, opening strategic sectors such as space and nuclear energy to private players, and the establishment of enabling frameworks such as the ANRF, the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy, and the recently launched Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund. These initiatives have strengthened India’s innovation architecture and reinforced the focus on translating scientific outcomes into societal and economic impact. Science is now moving from laboratories to markets and from ideas to impact.

The Government is providing the right impetus through proactive policies, the removal of outdated regulations, and is successfully creating an ethical yet level-playing field for Indian innovators. It is also moving beyond being merely a primary funder to becoming a primary enabler. With the establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) as the central apex body designed to provide strategic direction for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship across India, the aim is to transition India into a knowledge-driven economy and a global leader in innovation. The broader objective is to ensure that this journey is powered by indigenous intellectual property, ethical frameworks, and a “whole-of-government” approach for a “whole-of-society” commitment to science and technology.

‘Tech’ reflects this journey, with science as the foundational core, technology as the enabler, and innovation as the outcome. The national exhibition, scheduled for May 11, 2026, at the BRIC-National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi, showcases over 350 deep technologies developed indigenously by leading national research institutions and laboratories under 14 Ministries and Departments of the Government of India. These indigenous technologies span key thematic sectors including Biopharma and Health Technologies, Bioindustrial and Green Chemicals, Space and Geospatial Technologies, Climate and Agri-Food Technologies, Deep-Tech Materials and Advanced Engineering Technologies, Electronics, Semiconductors and Energy, and Deep Sea and Atmospheric Technologies. Many of these technologies have already been licensed or commercialised, while others will soon be available for licensing and deployment.

The common thread across these innovations is the shift from siloed research to an integrated, ecosystem-driven approach. Public research institutions are increasingly working closely with startups and industry to ensure that technologies move rapidly from laboratories to markets.

India’s next phase of technological growth would require deeper integration between academia, industry, startups, and government, beginning from the stage of conceptualisation of research programmes itself. Stronger industry-academia partnerships can improve alignment of research with national priorities, market needs, and societal challenges, while fundamental research must continue to be encouraged for breakthrough innovation and scientific excellence. National institutions and laboratories would also need to work in a more collaborative and mission-mode manner to address emerging challenges in frontier areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced materials, quantum technologies, space exploration, and medical technologies.

As science and technology evolve at an unprecedented pace, regulatory frameworks must also become more adaptive, streamlined, and innovation-friendly. Emerging domains such as cell and gene therapy, monoclonal biologics, synthetic biology, and autonomous systems require agile and evidence-based regulatory frameworks that balance innovation, safety, and ethics. Dynamic mechanisms such as regulatory sandboxes can help accelerate responsible innovation. Greater participation of States (e.g., BioE3 Cells) and regional innovation ecosystems, especially in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, can help promote a more decentralised and bottom-up approach to scientific and technological development aligned with regional priorities and challenges, ensuring that science and technology become powerful instruments for improving quality of life across the country.

The transformative power of science and technology will play a pivotal role in realising the vision of Viksit Bharat by driving economic growth, improving governance, enhancing productivity, and fostering inclusive development. Government initiatives such as the India Semiconductor Mission and the National Quantum Mission, alongside advancements in biomanufacturing, precision biotherapeutics, and AI-enabled solutions in agriculture and healthcare, highlight India’s strategic focus on strengthening innovation and leadership in emerging technologies. India is transitioning from being primarily a consumer of technology to becoming a global hub of innovation.

The writer is the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology; Views presented are personal.

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