India is actively charting a course to become a self-reliant, future-ready, and globally influential nation in science and technology by 2047, as articulated by Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science & Technology (DST). The country's strategy focuses on expanding research output and building a globally competitive and economically impactful innovation ecosystem aligned with national priorities.
Major Initiatives and Investments
A significant development is the launch of a **₹1 trillion National R&D and Innovation Fund**. This fund is designed to catalyze private-sector research and development in critical deep-tech sectors, including semiconductors, 6G and future networks, quantum systems, space technology, robotics, climate and energy solutions, AI-driven healthcare, biomanufacturing, advanced medical devices, and digital agriculture. This initiative aims to deepen capabilities and accelerate commercialization, positioning India at the forefront of future technologies.
The **Emerging Science & Technology Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025**, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a key platform bringing together over 3,000 participants from academia, research institutions, industry, and government. The conclave focuses on 11 thematic areas, including Artificial Intelligence, Bio-Manufacturing, Electronics & Semiconductor Manufacturing, Emerging Agriculture Technologies, Quantum Science & Technology, and Space Technologies.
Additionally, the upcoming **India International Science Festival (IISF) 2025** is being hailed as a celebration of India's universal recognition as a frontline global player in science. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the festival's role in inspiring youth and fostering scientific collaboration, aligning with India's vision for a sustainable future.
Technological Advancements and Focus Areas
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and DeepTech: India continues its strong push in AI. The indigenous AI-based multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) for Indian languages, dubbed **'Bharat Gen'**, has been launched. Experts at the TiEcon Delhi 2025 summit also deliberated on the crucial integration of AI and indigenous material science into the Indian healthcare system. Hyderabad is emerging as a significant hub for AI and open-source innovation, marked by Sonatype's inauguration of its India Innovation Hub in the city, aiming for 24/7 global product delivery. Internationally, India is advised to engage cautiously but vigilantly with global AI governance initiatives, such as China's proposed World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO).
- Space Technology: Progress continues on the **Gaganyaan mission**, India's first crewed spaceflight, with successful crew module tests and final preparations. The **Aditya-L1 mission** is actively tracking coronal mass ejections (CMEs), with scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics collaborating with NASA for spectroscopic observations.
- Bioeconomy and Healthcare: Dr. Jitendra Singh projected India's bioeconomy to reach USD 300 billion in the coming years, positioning the country as a global leader in bio-innovation. In healthcare, researchers at IIT Roorkee have developed a new drug candidate demonstrating a breakthrough against dangerous superbugs.
- Semiconductors and Telecom: India is strengthening its semiconductor ecosystem. IIT Madras and ISRO have jointly developed and successfully booted an indigenous semiconductor chip, the RISC–V Controller for Space Applications (IRIS), highlighting domestic R&D capabilities. Furthermore, India stands as the second-largest deployer of 5G over IPv6 globally and is fostering a vibrant 6G research ecosystem.
These initiatives and advancements underscore India's commitment to leveraging science and technology for national development and global leadership.