Content
- From Deep Tech to Knowledge Power: India’s Path to Strategic Autonomy
- The Gift of Athena: Building India as a Knowledge Power
From Deep Tech to Knowledge Power: India’s Path to Strategic Autonomy
Why in News ?
- India’s deep-tech ambitions — in AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, green tech — cannot be realised through government efforts alone.
- National leadership emphasises Aatmanirbharta in frontier technologies as a pillar of national security and strategic autonomy.
- Greater private sector participation, higher R&D spending, and whole-of-nation coordination are critical for success.
Relevance :
- GS Paper 3: Science & Technology, Industrial Policy, R&D, Innovation Systems, Indigenisation.
- GS Paper 2: Governance, Institutional Reform, Public–Private Partnerships, Policy Incentives.
Practice Question :
- India aims to become a global leader in deep technology and knowledge-based innovation. Critically examine the role of government, private sector, and institutional networks in achieving this vision. Suggest reforms required to bridge the R&D and innovation gap.(250 Words)
Understanding Deep Tech
- Definition: Advanced scientific and engineering innovations with long gestation periods and transformative impact.
- Examples: AI, Quantum Computing, Semiconductors, Green Hydrogen, Biotechnology, Space Tech, Advanced Materials.
- Significance:
- Drives economic competitiveness in Industry 5.0.
- Underpins national security and strategic autonomy.
- Enables dual-use innovations for civil and defence applications.
India’s Deep-Tech Vision
- Target Year: 2035 → Among Top 5 global deep-tech powers.
- Key Initiatives:
- India Semiconductor Mission (2022): $10B incentives for chip fabs.
- IndiaAI Mission (2024): ₹10,300 crore for foundational AI ecosystem.
- Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF): ₹50,000 crore for academia–industry research.
- Deep-Tech Fund of Funds (2025): ₹10,000 crore to support deep-tech startups.
- Vision: Move from “import and integrate” to “innovate and export”.
India’s R&D Investment Gap
| Indicator | India | China | USA | South Korea | Japan |
| R&D expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.65% | 2.4% | 3.4% | 4.9% | 3.3% |
| Annual R&D spend (approx.) | $15B | $600B+ | $1T+ | $110B | $170B |
| Private sector share in R&D | ~30% | ~75% | ~70% | ~80% | ~75% |
- India’s private R&D ≈ $5B, while NVIDIA/Intel spend $7–10B each annually.
- Gap highlights the need for private sector scaling.
Structural Challenges
- Low Private Sector R&D: Reliance on public labs (CSIR, DRDO, ISRO); corporate risk aversion.
- Weak Academia–Industry Linkages: Fragmented collaboration; limited tech transfer.
- Limited Deep-Tech Venture Capital: Deep-tech startups < 1% of India’s 1 lakh+ startups (NASSCOM 2024).
- Talent Constraints: ~2.5 lakh STEM PhDs/year; few in quantum, AI hardware, chip design.
- Import Dependence: Solar modules 80%, inverters 60%, battery cells 100%, lithium & cobalt ~70% imports (mostly China).
Sectoral Overview
Quantum Computing
- India’s first quantum computer: 25-qubit (developmental).
- Global benchmark: IBM Kookaburra → 1,536-qubit multi-chip (2025).
- Significant capacity and commercialisation gap.
Artificial Intelligence
- Vast linguistic datasets, but no global-standard native LLM.
- Minor efforts (Bhashini, BharatGPT) exist but are limited in scale and efficiency.
Semiconductors
- $10B India Semiconductor Mission launched; no operational commercial fab yet.
- Proposals: Micron (assembly), Tata (Gujarat fab in progress).
- Challenges: IP access, advanced lithography dependency.
Renewable Energy
- 50% of installed power capacity (2025) from renewables.
- Import dependency: solar 80%, battery cells 100%.
- Critical minerals (lithium, cobalt, nickel) almost entirely imported.
Government Role: Successes & Limits
Achievements:
- National missions with large funding pools.
- Startup incentives: iDEX, Startup India, PLI schemes.
- Institutions: IN-SPACe, NRF, IndiaAI.
Limits:
- Fiscal constraints limit high-end R&D funding.
- Public sector research remains bureaucratic, risk-averse.
- Slow technology diffusion and commercialisation.
Case for Private Sector Leadership
- Global experience: private-led innovation drives breakthroughs (US, China, South Korea, Israel).
- India needs:
- Corporate R&D allocation ≥2–3% of revenue (current <0.5%).
- Deep-tech venture funds and corporate labs.
- Academia-industry partnerships (IITs, IISc, DRDO, ISRO).
- Tax incentives and strong IP protection.
Policy & Ecosystem Reforms Needed
- Raise national R&D to 1.5% of GDP by 2030.
- Triple private sector R&D share via grants and incentives.
- Swiftly implement Anusandhan NRF to link academia–industry.
- Establish Deep-Tech Manufacturing Zones with shared labs.
- Simplify patent and tech licensing systems.
- Secure critical minerals (lithium, cobalt) via global alliances.
- Develop 100 new Deep–Tech Centres of Excellence for STEM talent.
Global Benchmarks
- US (DARPA): Government funds high-risk research; private industry commercialises.
- China: 70% R&D from corporates; guided by 5-year plans.
- South Korea: Chaebol-public institute collaborations.
- Israel: Military-industry innovation loop (e.g., Iron Dome).
Model: “Public seed – private scale” integrating state vision with corporate execution.
Strategic Implications
- Deep tech defines 21st-century power hierarchy → countries that design and innovate dominate.
- Dependence on foreign tech undermines: data sovereignty, cybersecurity, defence autonomy, energy resilience.
- Deep tech is existential for Viksit Bharat 2047, not a luxury.
Takeaway
- Core Thesis: India’s deep-tech revolution cannot rely on government alone; private sector investment and innovation are essential.
- Economic Reality: $15B vs. $600B (China), $1T (US) → urgent scaling needed.
- Strategic Imperative: Without private push, India risks being an “also-ran” in global tech.
- Way Forward: Whole-of-nation effort: Government (policy), Industry (execution), Academia (innovation).
The Gift of Athena: Building India as a Knowledge Power
Why in News ?
- The discussion is inspired by Joel Mokyr’s The Gifts of Athena and The Lever of Riches, which explore how knowledge drives economic and technological transformation.
- India’s quest to become a knowledge power requires understanding the interplay between propositional (how things work) and prescriptive knowledge (how to apply knowledge).
- This highlights gaps in India’s knowledge systems, particularly integration of science, engineering, and productive application.
Relevance :
- GS 3: Science & Technology, Innovation Systems, R&D, Industrial Policy, Knowledge Economy.
- GS 2: Governance, Institutional Reforms, Public–Private Partnerships, Policy Incentives.
Practice Question :
- Drawing on the framework of knowledge economies, critically analyse India’s challenges and opportunities in becoming a global knowledge power. Suggest institutional and policy measures to create productive feedback loops between research and industry.(250 Words)
Understanding Knowledge Economies
- Definition: Economies where innovation, knowledge creation, and diffusion are central drivers of productivity, growth, and technological leadership.
- Types of Knowledge (Mokyr):
- Propositional Knowledge: Understanding principles, laws of nature, scientific facts.
- Prescriptive Knowledge: Techniques and methods to apply principles to create inventions, tools, and technologies.
- Key Takeaway: Necessity alone does not drive innovation; it requires knowledge as a midwife to convert needs into productive inventions.
Mokyr’s Thesis on Industrial Revolution
Critical Factors for sustained innovation:
- Accumulation and interaction of propositional and prescriptive knowledge.
- Elite culture with scientific temperament embedded in institutions, networks, and epistemic norms.
- Diffusion mechanisms: Institutions, social conditions, and cross-border communication (e.g., trans-European “republic of letters”).
Paradoxical conditions:
- Political fragmentation allowed ideas to circulate freely.
- Social and institutional conditions spot talent and allow it to flourish.
Contrast with India:
- India historically had political fragmentation and intellectual vibrancy, with widespread dissemination of texts and knowledge networks.
- Despite this, India did not experience an industrial revolution, highlighting missing links in productive feedback loops between science and application.
Lessons for India’s Knowledge Economy
Elite Culture Matters:
- Innovation requires a culture of curiosity, scientific temperament, and openness in leadership and institutions.
- Individual genius is insufficient; institutional and networked support is critical.
Integration of Knowledge Types:
- India must bridge the gap between scientific discovery (propositional) and industrial/technological application (prescriptive).
Institutional Networks:
- Need robust networks for diffusion of ideas, collaboration between academia, industry, and public research institutions.
Trans-Political Knowledge Sharing:
- India’s historic “republic of letters” model of open, cross-regional intellectual exchange can be leveraged to foster modern innovation ecosystems.
State Role vs. Market Role:
- Mokyr downplays state intervention in sustained innovation.
- Contemporary examples (China, EU) show state-led policies can complement elite and private innovation networks.
Structural Gaps in India’s Knowledge Systems
- Weak integration of science, engineering, and industrial production.
- Limited culture of risk-taking, experimentation, and failure tolerance in institutions.
- R&D intensity: ~0.65% of GDP, far below advanced economies (US 3.4%, China 2.4%).
- Low private-sector participation in deep-tech innovation (~30% of India’s total R&D).
- Historical institutions did not create sufficient mechanisms for scaling knowledge into industrial output.
Contemporary Implications
Innovation Ecosystem Building:
- Develop institutions that encourage translational research.
- Promote startups and tech ventures that apply scientific knowledge.
Policy Design:
- Incentivise private sector participation in R&D.
- Support centres of excellence, collaborative labs, and tech parks.
Human Capital:
- Cultivate scientific literacy, curiosity, and experimentation culture among elites and students.
- Encourage interdisciplinary research bridging STEM, design, and business applications.
Global Learning:
- Leverage lessons from European industrialization, US DARPA model, and Chinese state-private innovation partnerships.
Strategic Takeaways
- Core Takeaway: Knowledge power arises not from raw resources or necessity alone but from sustained accumulation, diffusion, and institutional application of knowledge.
- India’s Path Forward:
- Create productive feedback loops between research and industry.
- Foster elite and institutional culture valuing curiosity, experimentation, and risk-taking.
- Leverage historical intellectual networks to build modern innovation ecosystems.
- Vision: By integrating Mokyr’s principles with modern policy and market mechanisms, India can emerge as a global knowledge power and drive long-term technological sovereignty.
