Deep-Tech Innovation as a Driver of India’s Growth

Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology

Context

• The Union Education Minister said that Bharat Innovates reflects India’s emergence as a global innovation hub, while addressing the concluding session of the Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit at IIT Bombay.

Bharat Innovates 2026

• Bharat Innovates is a national programme of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. 
• It is designed as a global accelerator and collaboration framework for deep-tech ventures emerging from India’s higher education and research ecosystem.
• Core Purpose: It acts as a long-term collaboration bridge connecting India’s top deep-tech startups and research parks with global stakeholders, including investors, corporations, and international governments.
• Technology Focus: The program spotlights innovations across 13 frontier sectors. These include semiconductors, biotechnology, space and defence, AI and cloud computing, green energy, and smart mobility.

What is deep technology?

• Deep tech refers to advanced and disruptive technologies that have the potential to trigger transformative change, and provide solutions for the future.
• The term is used to describe cutting-edge research in nanotechnology, biotechnology, material sciences, quantum technologies, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, data sciences, robotics, 3D printing, etc. 

Significance of India’s Deep-Tech Ambitions

• Global Leadership: It positions India as a trusted R&D hub in the “China+1” global landscape, leveraging its massive STEM talent pool to lead in frontier technologies like Quantum Computing and 6G.
• Technological Sovereignty: Reduces critical reliance on foreign imports for national security, defense, and space, ensuring India isn’t vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions.
• Solving Local Challenges: Enables India-first solutions for massive social hurdles, such as AI for rural healthcare, precision agriculture for food security, and green hydrogen for energy independence.
• Economic Value: A robust deep-tech ecosystem enables India to move up the global value chain, shifting from low-cost services and assembly-based manufacturing to high-value research, design and intellectual property creation.

Challenges Facing India’s Deep-Tech Ecosystem

• Low R&D Expenditure: India’s Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) remains around 0.64% of GDP, significantly lower than major innovation economies such as the US, China, South Korea, and Israel.
• Limited Private Sector Participation: Public institutions account for a major share of R&D spending, while private-sector contribution remains around 36%, far below countries where industry drives over 70% of R&D investment.
• Funding Constraints: Venture capital in India largely favours quick-return sectors such as fintech and e-commerce, whereas deep-tech ventures require high-risk investments, patient capital, and long gestation periods.
• Semiconductor Dependence: India continues to rely heavily on imports of semiconductors, advanced electronics, and fabrication equipment, creating technological and supply-chain vulnerabilities.
• Brain Drain: A large number of highly skilled researchers and engineers migrate abroad due to better research infrastructure, funding opportunities, and higher remuneration.
• Weak Industry–Academia Linkages: Limited collaboration between universities, research institutions, and industry restricts technology transfer, patent commercialization, and the scaling of research-driven innovations.
• Global Competition in Frontier Technologies: Rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence, quantum technologies, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing by major powers pose significant competitive challenges for India.

Government Initiatives for India’s Deep-Tech Ecosystem

• Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme Fund: The scheme has an outlay of Rs 1 lakh crore over 6 years, with Rs 20,000 crore allocated for FY 2025–26, funded from the Consolidated Fund of India. Key objectives of the Scheme are as follows;

• Encourage the private sector to scale up research, development, and innovation (RDI) in sunrise domains and in other sectors relevant for economic security, strategic purpose, and self-reliance,
• Finance transformative projects at higher levels of Technology Readiness Levels (TRL),
• Support acquisition of technologies which are critical or of high strategic importance,
• Facilitate setting up of a Deep-Tech Fund of Funds.

• National Deep Tech Startup Policy (NDTSP): It seeks to strengthen India’s deep-tech ecosystem through enhanced funding, research commercialization, intellectual property support, talent development, and enabling regulations for frontier technologies such as AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, and space technology.
• India Semiconductor Mission (ISM): Launched with a financial outlay of ₹76,000crore to develop semiconductor and display manufacturing in India.
  • Provides up to 50% fiscal support for semiconductor fabs, ATMP facilities, chip design, and related infrastructure.
• National Quantum Mission (NQM): Approved in 2023 for the period 2023–2031, NQM seeks to build capabilities in quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing, and quantum materials.
• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): It promotes innovation and entrepreneurship through Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) and Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs).

Way Ahead 

• Increase R&D Investment: Raise India’s Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) to at least 2% of GDP through greater public funding and stronger private-sector participation.
• Industry–Academia Collaboration: Establish innovation clusters around leading universities and research institutions to accelerate technology transfer and commercialization.
• Attract Talent: Improve research funding, academic autonomy, and career opportunities to curb brain drain and attract global scientific talent.
• Promote Global Partnerships: Expand international collaborations in critical technologies while safeguarding intellectual property and national interests.

Source: DD News