{"id":74593,"date":"2026-05-23T16:45:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T11:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=74593"},"modified":"2026-05-23T17:19:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T11:49:17","slug":"india-deep-tech-alliances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/23-05-2026\/india-deep-tech-alliances","title":{"rendered":"India\u2019s Deep-Tech Push: India Needs Alliances"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS-III (Science &amp; Technology, Economy)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The recent visit of India\u2019s Prime Minister to the <strong>Nordic countries, Italy and the Netherlands<\/strong> was significant for India\u2019s strategic outreach aimed at strengthening partnerships in deep technology, innovation, green energy and digital sovereignty.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Deep Tech?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Deep Tech<\/strong> refers to technology-driven innovation based on substantial scientific or engineering advances.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Deep-tech startups<\/strong> work on cutting-edge sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductors, quantum computing, robotics, biotechnology blockchain and crypto, green energy technologies, and space technology, unlike conventional startups focused mainly on digital services.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Unlike conventional startups<\/strong> that scale digital services quickly, deep-tech ventures <strong>require high capital, long research cycles, and tight collaboration<\/strong> between academia, industry, and government. This is what makes them difficult&nbsp; and strategically invaluable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why is Deep Tech Now a Geopolitical Issue?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Strategic Advantage:<\/strong> The world is entering what can be called a<strong> &#8220;deep-tech order.&#8221;<\/strong> Nations that control AI infrastructure, semiconductor supply chains, quantum-secure communication, and green energy technology will hold <strong>decisive strategic advantage over those that do not.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tech-colonisation:<\/strong> AI systems, cloud infrastructure, and advanced semiconductor technologies are dominated by a few US and Chinese firms. Countries lacking domestic technological capabilities risk <strong>long-term dependence, inheriting not only technology but also embedded biases, foreign legal influence, and strategic vulnerabilities.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Supply Chain Weaponisation: <\/strong>The US-China trade war has shown that semiconductor export controls are as powerful a geopolitical weapon as sanctions. India, which imports nearly $50 billion worth of chips annually while producing only $2\u20133 billion domestically, is directly exposed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Data Sovereignty Gap:<\/strong> India generates roughly 20% of global data but lacks proportional domestic data storage and processing capacity. The value extracted from Indian citizens&#8217; data largely benefits foreign cloud platforms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India&#8217;s Deep-Tech Ecosystem: Present Status<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Growing Startup Ecosystem: <\/strong>India has emerged as the <strong>world\u2019s third-largest startup ecosystem<\/strong> and is steadily expanding its deep-tech capabilities.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India has over 1 lakh recognised startups. More than 3,000 startups are engaged in deep-tech sectors. Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune are emerging as deep-tech hubs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strength in Digital Public Infrastructure: <\/strong>India\u2019s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has become globally recognised Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, and CoWIN.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>These systems demonstrate India\u2019s capacity for large-scale digital innovation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>AI and Semiconductor Push: <\/strong>The government launched the <strong>IndiaAI Mission<\/strong> with an outlay of over \u20b910,000 crore to strengthen AI computing infrastructure, AI startups, indigenous AI models, and skill development.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India has announced semiconductor incentive schemes worth \u20b976,000 crore to promote chip manufacturing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Global Partnerships: <\/strong>India is actively pursuing India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), technology partnerships with Nordic countries; and semiconductor cooperation with the US, Japan and Taiwan.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>These collaborations aim to reduce technological dependence on a few countries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Challenges Facing India\u2019s Deep-Tech Ecosystem<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Low R&amp;D Expenditure: <\/strong>India spends around <strong>0.7% of GDP<\/strong> on Research and Development.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s annual R&amp;D expenditure is about <strong>$13 billion<\/strong>. In comparison, Nvidia alone spends over <strong>$18 billion annually<\/strong> on R&amp;D.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limited Private Investment: <\/strong>Most deep-tech initiatives remain government-driven.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Venture capital prefers quick-return sectors such as fintech and e-commerce.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Deep-tech projects require long gestation periods and high risk tolerance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Semiconductor Dependency: <\/strong>India remains heavily dependent on imports for chips, advanced electronics, and semiconductor fabrication equipment.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It creates supply chain vulnerabilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Talent Drain: <\/strong>Many Indian researchers and engineers migrate abroad due to better funding, superior research infrastructure, and higher salaries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Weak Industry-Academia Linkages: <\/strong>Research institutions and industries often function in silos, limiting commercialisation of innovation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Government Efforts to Strengthen Deep-Tech Ecosystem<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>IndiaAI Mission: <\/strong>It was launched to create a robust AI ecosystem through GPU infrastructure, AI innovation centres, startup support, and ethical AI frameworks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Quantum Mission (NQM):<\/strong> It was approved in 2023 with an outlay of \u20b96,000 crore.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Key focus areas are quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Semiconductor Mission: <\/strong>The India Semiconductor Mission aims to develop domestic fabrication plants, promote chip design ecosystem, and attract global semiconductor firms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): <\/strong>It was established to improve research funding, university-industry collaboration, and innovation ecosystem.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Startup India and Digital India: <\/strong>These initiatives provide ease of doing business, funding support, digital infrastructure, and innovation incentives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Forward: How India Can Strengthen its Deep-Tech Ecosystem?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Increase R&amp;D Spending: <\/strong>India should gradually raise R&amp;D expenditure to at least 2% of GDP.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Encourage Private Sector Participation: <\/strong>Tax incentives for R&amp;D, deep-tech venture funds, and public-private partnerships.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Build Semiconductor Manufacturing Capacity: <\/strong>India needs to accelerate fabrication units, supply chain resilience, and the electronics ecosystem.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strengthen Research Universities: <\/strong>Improve global rankings, promote interdisciplinary research, increase autonomy and funding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Foster International Collaboration: <\/strong>Strategic partnerships with EU, Nordic countries, Japan, and US can accelerate technology transfer and innovation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Develop Skilled Human Capital: <\/strong>Focus on AI education, quantum computing skills, semiconductor engineering, and research fellowships.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Daily Mains Practice Question<\/strong><br><strong>[Q] <\/strong>Discuss the major challenges faced by India in achieving technological sovereignty. Examine India\u2019s efforts to strengthen its deep-tech ecosystem.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/pm-modi-nordic-countries-visit-europe-norway-italy-svendsen-10703052\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source: IE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Daily-Editorial-Analysis-23-05-2026.pdf\"><strong>Download PDF<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Published on:<\/strong> 23 may, 2026<\/p>\n<p>The recent visit of India\u2019s Prime Minister to the Nordic countries, Italy and the Netherlands was significant for India\u2019s strategic outreach aimed at strengthening partnerships in deep technology, innovation, green energy and digital sovereignty.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":74596,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-74593","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial-analysis"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/05\/indias-deep-tech-push-india-needs-alliances.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74593","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74593"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74593\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":74598,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74593\/revisions\/74598"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74596"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74593"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74593"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74593"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}