N a t i o n a l v i s i o n D o c u m e n t

Inspired by Prof. C K Prahal

Technology and Innovation

◊ Indian products and services are at the forefront of innovation and quality

◊ India utilizes technology to profitably solve problems at the grassroots level and benefit the masses

◊ India produces and attracts the world’s best researchers through its world class R&D infrastructure

◊ India fulfils its energy requirements, predominantly through clean energy sources

20 The Boston Consulting Group - Confederation of Indian Industry - Young Indians

Indian products and services are at the forefront of innovation and quality

By the year 2022, people would like to see India establish

itself as a global technology leader developing the most

advanced products and services. India should be at the

forefront of inventing new and better technologies rather

than replicating the technology of other countries.

Innovation has clearly emerged as a priority with the clear

recognition that in a fast changing world, societies which

can innovate will see sustained economic growth.

Imagine Indian products and services setting thehighest performance and quality benchmarksconsistently thus becoming the clear choice forcustomers globally. Visualize our companies investingin path-breaking technologies and being globallyrecognized as innovative brands.

Exhibit 3. Number of patents filed andgranted in India are growing, butmost are in favour of foreigners

Source: Intellectual property training institute and patent information system - Annual Report (2006-07)

Voices of India

“Science & technology should offer solutions to the problems of the country”

“Technology for rural masses & better com-munication”

“Technology to be affordable to masses”

“Science & technology can be used by all sec-tions of society”

The technology of the future has to be environmentallysustainable. Eco-friendly technologies can help reducethe negative impact of our products and services on theenvironment. To enable wide-spread access totechnology for the smallest entrepreneurs, our R&Dprocesses should be made more cost effective. Wehave many success stories of low cost innovation in ourcountry and we should capitalize on this advantage.

India utilizes technology to profitably solve problems at the grassroots level and benefit the masses

India has a large population living in diverse conditions.This presents a unique set of problems which must betackled individually. Not surprisingly, technology is seenas critical to improving the quality of life of Indians. Weneed to maximize technology’s potential to solveproblems at the grassroots level, and use it as a tool forenabling far-reaching changes. Adopting bettertechnology will, for example, enable farmers to improvetheir productivity manifold using high quality seeds andfertilizers.

Current technology projects which aim to solve localproblems have had limited success. This is due to theirinability to solve the actual problem, attemptingsolutions which may not succeed under field conditions.We also lack effective technology transfer practices.

India should possess a grassroots-driven, inclusive

approach for developing need-based technology to

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Voices of India

“India should be home to global innova-tions”

“Invention of technologies rather than adap-tation”

“World leader in innovation”

“India should file more patents”

“Preserving and patenting innovative ideas“

provide solutions to local issues. People need to be

involved at all stages of the development process, and

efficient systems for knowledge management, testing and

technology transfer should be set up. Our large population

is an attractive market for such solutions and businesses

must view this as an exciting opportunity to generate

wealth. Technology can help government as well as

industry to contribute towards public welfare.

India produces and attracts the world’s best researchers through its world class R&D infrastructure

By 2022, people of this country would like to boast ofscientists and researchers who continually win thehighest accolades, and are globally recognized andrespected for the quality of their work. We aspire for anIndia where all scientists have access to the mostadvanced facilities to carry out path breaking research.

India should house several institutes with world-class

infrastructure facilities at all levels across various fields.

Scientific research in India will mean working in the best

laboratories equipped with the latest equipment and

financial benefits. Working under such conditions would

make research an exciting career option. This would help

India retain its brightest minds and become a hub for the

world’s best science and technology personnel. Moreover,

the opportunity to work in an encouraging environment

alongside the world’s leading thinkers would help us

attract renowned scientists from across the world.

Modern research facilities in India are currently available

only in a select few laboratories and institutes, while most

higher education institutes are not equipped with adequate

facilities to conduct research. It’s not surprising that the

ratio of scientists to total population is low in India as

compared to other countries. In 2006, India had 8

scientists per 1000 population as compared to 181 for

Voices of India

“Promotion of research and developmentthrough better pay to scientists and PhDhold-ers in research sector”

“World class research and development fa-cilities”

“World leader in technology”

“Increase in Govt. spending for researchcen-ters as % of G.D.P.”

“To have more number of technical institu-tions like IITs, Medical Institutions to propeltechnological scientific research”

Canada, 139 for Russia and 21 for the United States.

Steps to enhance the attractiveness of science as acareer (through world-class facilities, adequaterecognition and financial benefits) will help revive ourancient tradition of scientific excellence.

India fulfils its energy requirements, predominantly through clean energy sources

By 2022, our country will be self-sufficient in meeting its

energy requirements. Ensuring that we meet the energy

needs of our people and industries will lead to accelerated

development. At the same time, it is equally important that

development happens in harmony with the environment.

Increased energy generation using green sources and

appliances which consume less energy will help us reduce

our energy deficit.

Various parts of the country possess natural resourceslike sunlight, wind and tides in abundance. By fullyutilising these resources, India can ensure an assuredenergy supply for each individual.

22 The Boston Consulting Group - Confederation of Indian Industry - Young Indians

Exhibit 4. We are currently using less than one-sixth of our potential renewable energy resources

Source: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Ministry of Power, Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 428, dated 03.03.2008

It should become common to see windmills, solarcells, biogas plants and other cleaner energygeneration techniques being used across thenation. Apart from being the leader in usingrenewable energy, India should also developbreakthroughs such as fusion reactors in nuclearphysics to help meet the energy requirements ofthis country.

Voices of India

“At least 60% of our energy consumptionshould rely on renewable sources ofenergy”

“Use of renewable resources like - rainhar-vesting, sea waves, low high tides,bio fuels, solar energy, wind energy”

“Development of Sustainable

Technology” “Promoting energy

efficiency”

“Nuclear Reactor which works on fusion process and is able to store energy”

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