STRIVE TO BE TECHNOLOGY LEADERS

To propel India’s ascent, we should harness its strengths in human capital and tackle pressing societal problems through tech-based solutions

- Ashok Jhunjhunwala

The 'Make in India' programme has given a push to some local manufacturing, but it is merely an assembly job with imported technology and components. The result is a low value-addition. As we aim to become a developed nation, we need to carry out design and development in India, use as many local components as possible, make machinery for production and own a significant part of IPR (intellectual property right) for the products. We need to strive to be amongst the technology leaders in at least a few areas. How do we go about doing it? We need to first understand India's strengths: We now have an increasing number of young scientists and engineers with high-quality expertise, having obtained the best training available. They are raring to go and to lead, if the nation can provide the right push and support.

We have a large pool of fresh engineering graduates, and they can be good even if they come from lesser known colleges. They must be motivated to work hard for long hours, learn from each other, and take up impossible challenges.

Fortunately, the cost of such talent in India is much lower than elsewhere.

We have a very large market, but only for affordable products. This makes the task of developing such products a challenge, but overcoming it would push us towards a leadership position in technology.