Indigenization of Technology

Technological Indigenisation refers to building and utilising local resources and skills, dependent on the concept of designing, manufacturing, and maintaining technological solutions within any country. Its greatness lies in building self-reliance, reducing dependence on foreign technology, and creating innovations suitable to local needs and cultural heritage. This treatise is intended to bring into focus the principles, challenges, and implications of indigenisation in the technological arena in India.

About Indigenization of Technology

• Technologies used by the native people of a country form an important part of its cultural heritage.
• According to one explanation, the indigenisation is the capability to design, develop, and manufacture equipment within the country by the skills and resources available.
• Self-reliance comes with another level when it is about the maintaining and repairing of these, as well as foreign-derived equipment. Being able to supply oneself with everything internally that one needs defines self-sufficiency.
• The term “indigenisation of technology” includes more than just making the product using drawings and materials supplied by a foreign manufacturer.
• The local manufacturer is expected to comprehend the technology lying beneath the product or part and change, modify, improve, or redesign it anytime he or she wishes.

Indigenous Knowledge and Innovations

• Indigenous knowledge is the knowledge of indigenous and local communities that has been developed from experience gained over centuries and adapted to the local culture and environment.
• Indigenous knowledge is the basis for many remote, rural, and marginalised communities in society and is an essential component in the educational development of members within these communities.
• This knowledge is likely disappearing from many communities due to many reasons, such as colonisation, modern society’s lack of understanding, etc.

Importance and Prospects of Indigenisation of Technology

• The desirability of indigenisation can be examined from a price point of view and from the availability of low-cost repair and maintenance over years of functioning of equipments and technologies.
• For defence or military applications, the value of indigenisation is multiplied many times by incorporating strategic reliability of the ready and direct access to a local manufacturer and local support base.
• An indigenous manufacturer also possesses the advantage of being periodically able to retrofit its products by using improved technology developed in its own labs.
• Policies and programmes conceived during various phases can be studied and illustrated with examples.
• The ‘Make in India’ programme aims at enlarging India’s manufacturing arena while encouraging the domestic private sector. It also sets an agenda to attract ‘FDI in defence’.
• Hence, putting indigenisation of military hardware has clearly come to be viewed as a strategic imperative, and the government is moving on a twin track of pushing domestic R&D and enhancing India’s manufacturing base for defence equipment.
• The Indian Air Force has issued its till-2025 indigenization road map, which describes the future technologies and new weapon system capabilities it intends to induct.
• The BrahMos missile is the product of an Indo-Russian collaborative effort. It is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile capable of being launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land; it is the fastest-cruise missile in the world.
• India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, is undergoing sea trials. Similar to INS Vikramaditya, Vikrant would also follow the Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) mechanism, utilizing a ski-jump and arrestor cables to launch and recover aircraft.
• The successful test-firing of the indigenously designed nuclear-capable Long-Range Ballistic Missile Agni-5 brought India a step closer to joining the exclusive club of countries with Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), with a range of 5,000-5,500 km.
• One could say that the successful Mars Orbiter Mission by ISRO defied expectations because the project cost one-tenth of other similar missions conducted abroad. The fact that India is the only country to have succeeded in its maiden attempt at Mars makes this even more credible.

National Innovation Foundation

• NIF was formed in March 2000 with the inspiration taken from Honey Bee Network philosophy to reinforce grassroots technological innovations and traditional knowledge in India.
• Its mission is to develop a creative and knowledge-based society by increasing the recognition and support for grassroots innovators.
• NIF facilitates the grassroots innovators and traditional knowledge holders to receive due recognition and rewards, which enables the diffusion of their innovations through many channels.
• NIF has a database of over 225,000 technological ideas and practices received from over 585 districts across India, showing the expanse of the grassroots creativity.
• The foundation has awarded 816 grassroots innovators through the Institute’s National Biennial Grassroots Innovation Award Functions, including the Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam Ignite Children Awards.
• NIF has set up a Fab Lab with MIT for product development and also supplemented laboratory facilities at SRISTI for validation of herbal technologies.
• The G2G (grassroots to global) model promoted by NIF aims to transform perceptions of grassroots creativity and innovation on a global scale, demonstrating India’s capability in solving problems sustainably using local resources.

Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC)

• On the recommendation of the Technology Policy Implementation Committee (TPIC) in 1985, the Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council – TIFAC was set up as a registered society in February 1988 with the Department of Science and Technology. The intent was to make it an autonomous body that would assess state-of-the-art technology and chart the course for future technological development in significant socio-economic domains in India.
• Being a unique knowledge network-type institution in India, TIFAC activities cover a wide range of technology areas and fill a chasm in the entire S&T system of India.
• The organization has carried out technology foresight exercise, supported and promoted technology development, prepared technology-linked business opportunity reports, and implemented mission-mode programmes.

India Technology Vision 2020

• Proposed by former President A.P.J. Kalam in 1998, Technology Vision 2020 aims to transform India from a less-developed to a developed society within 20 years through technological advancement.
• The vision emphasises economic and social development across key sectors, using technology as a pivotal tool.
• A major focus is on food sustainability and security, particularly improving yields in paddy and wheat through a ‘Systems Approach,’ leading to farmers adopting effective practices in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
• The vision highlights the importance of literacy and education as foundational to societal development. Initiatives like Mission REACH aim to establish ‘Centres of Relevance and Excellence (CORE)’ through partnerships with industry and institutions.
• Addressing communicable diseases is crucial; improved diagnostics and treatment options are essential for reducing illness prevalence.
• The vision promotes the development of an information society and knowledge economy, emphasising the critical role of ICT and telecommunications as a catalyst for social development.
• Nine educational institutions have been networked under the CORE initiative to enhance manpower quality in societal and industrial relevance areas.

Technology Vision, 2035

• The Technology Vision 2035 constitutes a TIFAC initiative for ensuring that India overcomes its challenges and is technologically equipped by 2035.
• The document tries to give security, prosperity, and identity to every Indian and finds its expression in many languages.
• A set of twelve areas that require focused development are education, healthcare, agriculture, water, energy, and ICT, to name a few, for which roadmaps have been charted.
• Nutritional security, water quality, holistic education, and decentralised energy solutions are some mentioned in the Vision.
• Convergence of nanotechnology, biology, IT, and cognitive science gives rise to ethical dilemmas worthy of serious contemplation.
• TV 2035, thus, is firmly grounded in the collective Indian aspiration and is meant to empower the democratic process and advance the quality of life through technological means.

Classification of Technology

Technologies are categorised into six classifications from an Indian perspective:

• Technology Leadership: Niche technologies where India has competencies (e.g., nuclear energy).
• Technology Independence: Strategic technologies are to be developed locally (e.g., in defense).
• Technology Innovation: Integrating and applying breakthroughs across fields (e.g., renewable energy from solar cells).
• Technology Adoption: Modifying imported technologies to local needs (e.g., rainwater harvesting).
• Technology Constraints: Problematic technologies with negative impacts (e.g., GM crops).

Call to Action

The document emphasises the need for:

• Enhanced technical education and research.
• Increased government financial support for R&D.
• Greater participation from the private sector.
• Strong connections between academia, industry, and research.
• Creation of a robust research ecosystem.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the indigenisation of technology in India is not merely about manufacturing but signifies a broader vision of empowerment and sustainability. By harnessing indigenous knowledge and fostering local innovations, India aims to reduce dependence on foreign technologies, enhance self-reliance, and strengthen its defence capabilities.

The ongoing initiatives and strategic frameworks, such as Technology Vision 2020 and 2035, reflect the nation’s commitment to addressing pressing challenges while promoting economic growth. As India progresses, the collaboration between grassroots innovators, educational institutions, and government bodies will be vital in realising the potential of a self-sufficient and technologically advanced society.

Ultimately, this journey of indigenisation holds the promise of not just technological advancement but also the preservation of cultural heritage and the betterment of lives across the nation.

FAQs: Indigenization of Technology

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