Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has called for India to move beyond its role as a technology consumer and emerge as a global leader in designing, creating, and driving innovation in critical emerging sectors. Addressing the PAN-IIT Alumni Conference in Los Angeles virtually, the Minister emphasised that technological capability will be the defining metric of national strength, economic resilience, and global competitiveness in the coming decades. He urged the Indian diaspora—particularly the vast IIT alumni network—to act as vital connectors between India and the global innovation ecosystem.
The Minister highlighted the Viksit Bharat by 2047 vision, noting that India is at a defining moment in its development journey where science, technology, and innovation serve as the foundation for future growth. He pointed to India’s space programme, advancements in biotechnology, and the rising tide of deep-tech startups as clear indicators of the country’s accelerating technological maturity.
Deep Tech as a National Security Imperative
Dr. Jitendra Singh identified several emerging domains—specifically semiconductors, artificial intelligence, robotics, and quantum technologies—as keys to securing India’s national security and global standing. He argued that the era of relying solely on imported tech is ending, and the focus must now shift to building domestic capacity in these strategic frontiers through deeper collaboration between academia, industry, and government.
Emphasising the diaspora’s influence, the Minister acknowledged how IIT alumni have consistently led global corporations, driven cutting-edge research, and shaped public policy. He invited these global leaders to engage more actively in mentoring Indian startups, investing in research and deep-tech initiatives, and forging institutional collaborations that link India’s educational frameworks with real-world applications and entrepreneurship.
Scaling Institutional and Policy Innovation
Citing the launch of the Sajjan Agarwal School of Technology at Rishihood University as an example of diaspora-led institution building, Dr. Jitendra Singh stressed that new models of education are essential to fulfilling India’s tech ambitions. He noted that such initiatives reflect a commitment to strengthening the nation’s technological base by integrating real-world problem solving with academic rigour.
The Minister expressed confidence that a collective effort involving government support, industry investment, and global Indian expertise will not only help India achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 but also ensure it contributes significantly to the global progress of critical technologies. By fostering a culture of innovation that moves from lab-scale research to scalable industrial solutions, he asserted that India is well-positioned to shape the next frontier of global technological advancement.
