This year, we are excited to bring you a collection of interviews and research highlights that showcase India’s substantial impact in scientific and technological innovations.
National Technology Day is held each year on May 11 to celebrate India's achievements and advancements across science and technology. This commemorative day recognizes the contributions of Indian researchers, scientists, and engineers who have played a pivotal role in technological innovations.
In today’s world full of complex challenges related to food, energy, water and environment, the integration of science, technology & innovation (STI) can only help us find sustainable solutions. The deeper involvement of technology and innovation has bridged the gap between science and society, rightly mentioned in the Science Technology & Innovation Policy 2013 as “Science technology & innovation for the people is the new paradigm of Indian STI enterprise.”
As India prepares to foster an inclusive and robust ecosystem, some of the key transformational technological developments that the country promises to witness in the coming years are covered under these missions: National Quantum Mission, Artificial Intelligence Mission, India Semiconductor Mission, National Green Hydrogen Mission and National Mission on Bioeconomy. Through these strategic initiatives, the aim is not only to be self-reliant but to also actively contribute towards the global technological development.
To celebrate this occasion, we are excited to showcase a collection of interviews, research collections, and more that highlights the role of basic sciences in technological development and beyond.
Read Insights from the Scientific Community in India
In these short interviews, researchers and educators talk about the various aspects of dynamic research and technological impact in the country. These interviews help foster greater communication among the scientific community.
Ramesh Raliya
Dr. Ramesh Raliya, with a background rooted in farming, boasts an illustrious academic career, holding a master’s degree in plant biotechnology, a Ph.D. in Nano-Chemistry, and a Postdoctoral fellowship in Nanotechnology from Washington University in St. Louis, United States.
Dr. Raliya is recognized globally for his groundbreaking contributions—particularly his patented innovations like Nano Urea and Nano DAP, which have transformed agricultural practices across 80 million acres and 90 crops. He has spearheaded innovative methods for synthesizing inorganic and organic nanomaterials with independently controlled properties, with applications ranging from crop nutrition and protection to biomedical uses such as drug delivery, therapeutics, and imaging—as well as in water chemistry, energy storage materials, sensors, and environmental interactions.
Currently, Dr. Raliya serves as a Co-Founder of Smart Aerosol Technology and holds the position of Chief Scientific Officer at Tidal Vision, in addition to serving as an Associate Editor of ACS Agricultural Science & Technology. With three published books, more than 80 research articles, and recognition as an inventor on more than 20 patents, Dr. Raliya's contributions are substantial. As a committed mentor, he has also held positions as Adjunct Faculty at prestigious institutions like IIT Delhi and the University of Miami. Dr. Raliya's multidisciplinary background, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication to sustainability firmly establish him as a leader driving positive change in the fields of nanotechnology and agriculture.
How do you perceive the current state of technological development in India, and what areas do you see experiencing rapid growth?
India's technological journey has been characterized by a remarkable trajectory of progress, driven by a synergy of factors such as government initiatives, a burgeoning startup ecosystem, robust investments, and a skilled workforce. In recent years, India has emerged as a global powerhouse in technological development, positioned at the forefront of innovation in agriculture, biotechnology, nanotechnology, medicinal chemistry, renewable energy, electronics, space, and digital transformation.
The current state of technological advancement in India reflects a dynamic landscape marked by unprecedented growth and rapid evolution across various sectors. By harnessing the power of digital technologies, diverse big data sources, fostering a culture of innovation, and addressing societal challenges through technology-driven solutions, India is well-positioned to lead the way in shaping the future of the digital age. The key lies in nurturing collaboration between industry, academia, and government, investing in research and development, and fostering an ecosystem that encourages experimentation and risk-taking. With concerted efforts and unwavering determination, India's technological prowess will continue to flourish, driving inclusive growth and unlocking new frontiers of possibility.
What are the key challenges hindering the pace of technological innovation in India, and how can they be addressed?
India, with its vast pool of talent, promising startup ecosystem, and ambitious government initiatives, stands on the cusp of technological transformation. However, amidst this promising landscape of innovation, several key challenges such as inadequate R&D infrastructure, skill shortages, regulatory hurdles, long judicial process, limited access to capital, and the need for robust intellectual property rights protection act as significant roadblocks, impeding the pace of technological advancement. Overcoming these challenges requires a concerted effort from government, industry, academia, and civil society.
For sustained growth, India needs to make larger investments in R&D infrastructure and empower governance in universities and research institutes. Collaboration between academia and industry is essential to design curriculum and certification programs that equip students with relevant skills. Lifelong learning initiatives and upskilling programs must be promoted to bridge the skills gap and ensure continuous workforce readiness. Nurturing talent for innovation and scaling up in frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, data science, climate change mitigation, clean energy, nanotechnology, and cybersecurity is crucial. Streamlining regulatory procedures and implementing clear, transparent, and business-friendly policies are imperative to create an environment conducive to innovation. Establishing regulatory sandboxes to facilitate experimentation and pilot testing of new technologies, while ensuring access to capital, improving intellectual property rights, and promoting inclusive innovation, can unlock India's full potential as a global powerhouse of technological innovation.
In your opinion, what role does collaboration between academia, industry, and government play in fostering technological growth?
Collaboration among academia, industry, and government is essential for fostering technological growth and driving societal progress. By leveraging their complementary strengths, aligning incentives, and nurturing a culture of collaboration and knowledge exchange, stakeholders can unlock the full potential of innovation, paving the way for a future marked by resilience, prosperity, and human flourishing.
This triumvirate plays a pivotal role in advancing technological growth and propelling society toward a brighter future. It bridges the gap between theory and practice, catalyzes innovation and entrepreneurship, nurtures talent and skills development, and stimulates economic growth and competitiveness. As we navigate the complexities of the 21st century, let us embrace the power of collaboration as a catalyst for transformation and a beacon of hope for a better tomorrow.
How do you envision the future of technology in India, and what steps are needed to ensure sustained progress and global competitiveness?
The future of technology in India holds vast possibilities and opportunities for growth, innovation, and societal transformation. By embracing digital transformation, nurturing innovation ecosystems, investing in human capital and R&D infrastructure, promoting sustainable and inclusive growth, and bolstering global competitiveness, India can successfully navigate the complexities of the digital age and emerge as a beacon of technological excellence on the global stage.
To maintain its leadership position in technology, India must prioritize enhancing its global competitiveness through strategic partnerships, international collaboration, and market-driven innovation. This involves leveraging India's strengths in areas such as software development, information technology services, renewable energy, climate science, agriculture, biomedical, nanotechnology, biotechnology, quantum technology, space science, and digital entrepreneurship to seize global market opportunities. Moreover, initiatives to improve the ease of doing business, safeguard intellectual property rights, and foster a conducive business environment will further enhance India's allure as a destination for foreign investment and technology collaboration.
As India embarks on its technological journey, it is crucial to envision a future where technology serves as a force for good, propelling progress, prosperity, and well-being for all.
Vikram Vishal
Prof. Vikram Vishal serves as a Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, IIT Bombay, and holds a Ph.D. degree jointly from IIT Bombay and Monash University, Australia. His academic journey includes roles such as Visiting Professor at the MIT Energy Initiative, MIT, United States; Adjunct Faculty at IIT Bhubaneswar, India; and Monash University, Australia. He also implemented his post-doctoral research at Stanford University, United States.
Since 2017, Professor Vishal has been a faculty member at the United States Department of Energy-sponsored 'Research Experience in Carbon Sequestration' school. He is the Convener of the DST-sponsored National Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture and Utilization at IIT Bombay, and he is also the founder and director of UrjanovaC Private Limited—a clean energy and net zero solutions company. Prof. Vishal specializes in geomechanics, CCUS, and enhanced petroleum recovery. He is a lead investigator for several R&D projects and also serves on several national and international expert committees.
Prof. Vishal is a two-time national award and two-time Fulbright fellowship recipient, has authored more than 100 research publications, and has received two patents. He has co-authored several roadmaps/atlases by the Government of India apart from a few international reports. He has consistently featured in the list of top 2% highly cited ‘Energy’ scientists in the world by the Clarivate-Stanford study over the last four years. His team, led by students, won the CCS X-Prize, supported by the Elon Musk Foundation for ‘demonstration of carbon dioxide removal’, announced at the COP-26 in Glasgow, United Kingdom.
How do you perceive the current state of technological development in India, and what areas do you see experiencing rapid growth?
India has made significant strides in technological advancement in recent years—through a robust R&D ecosystem in the academia as well as industry. Despite a constrained pool of researchers and a relatively modest R&D budget compared to other emerging economies and developed nations, India stands out, ranking second globally in publication output and seventh in patents granted annually. The initiatives like "Make in India" and "Startup India" have been instrumental in reshaping the R&D landscape, fostering a vibrant ecosystem across academia and industry.
Several domains that have experienced rapid advancement include information technology, electronics, space research, economics, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, clean energy, and environmental science and technology, among others.
What are the key challenges hindering the pace of technological innovation in India, and how can they be addressed?
The challenges are manifold: despite over 3x increase in R&D expenditure over the last ten years, it stands at a mere 0.65% of the GDP, far from the envisioned 2%. Dependency on imports for facilities and services, inadequate allocation of R&D funds to state and central universities, limited collaboration between industry and academia, and a glaring gender disparity in science and technology research are among the critical challenges that need attention.
To overcome these, we need to strengthen the overall R&D ethos across academia, enhance outreach and dissemination of research to society, and establish a robust industry engagement framework for screening and translating research outcomes. Identifying priority areas that address both current global challenges and national focus while also strengthening support to long-term research endeavours are imperative and crucial.
In your opinion, what role does collaboration between academia, industry, and government play in fostering technological growth?
Various industries exhibit a strong commitment to research, design, and development, while others rely on partnerships with R&D laboratories. Academia continues to explore research issues based on review of global literature. While incremental research predominates, disruptive R&D is needed in pressing problems that need early implementation. The development of COVID-19 vaccine falls in the latter category. Similarly, clean energy technologies, climate change mitigation, and adaptation need disruptive, scalable R&D outcomes. Engaging with the industry enriches the academic fraternity with more perspectives. While the government funding has overall increased, models that foster industry participation with joint funding opportunities accelerate scientific and technological progress. Aligning with their overall research interests, the scientists need to identify and prioritise to work on problems that "need to be solved" over those that "can be solved."
How do you envision the future of technology in India, and what steps are needed to ensure sustained progress and global competitiveness?
I firmly believe that India holds the key to future technological advancements and their effective deployment. The establishment of the National Research Foundation (NRF) holds great promise for enhancing research governance and fostering stronger linkages within the research ecosystem. Key measures that align with the NRF's objectives and beyond include: increased stakeholder participation, enhanced funding allocation, industry engagement, mission-specific Public-Private Partnerships, facilitating the transition of research into startup ventures, promoting inclusivity, establishing and sharing robust infrastructure, prioritizing strategic frontier areas for global leadership through effective technology forecasting. Finally, strengthening basic research and promotion of excellence in knowledge creation will ensure development of high-quality human resources.
Ezhil Subbian
Dr. Ezhil Subbian is the Co-Founder & CEO of String Bio Pvt Ltd. She completed her degree in Industrial and Biotech engineering from Anna University, Chennai, India, and then went on to do a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, United States. She then worked for over 12 years in Silicon Valley’s Bay area as part of the biotechnology industry. She worked as a scientist and technical lead across multiple companies before becoming a consultant and then starting up.
How do you perceive the current state of technological development in India, and what areas do you see experiencing rapid growth?
India's technological landscape is undergoing a dynamic transformation. Established strengths in conventional sectors like information technology and pharmaceuticals are flourishing alongside breakthroughs in cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence, robotics and bio-manufacturing. Advancements in traditional sectors provide a strong foundation for venturing into new frontiers. High technology industries such as biotechnology, nano technology, microelectronics, and advanced materials are becoming the focus in national priorities. In the recent times, we are also witnessing "brain drain" giving way to "brain gain" as more global technologists and entrepreneurs are joining India enterprises to pursue challenging opportunities.
What are the key challenges hindering the pace of technological innovation in India, and how can they be addressed?
We are still in the early stages of India’s growth economy and innovation hub. Appropriate quantum and channels of research funding, innovation system with relevant incentives, and consistent focus on out-of- box thinking is required for India’s growth in the next three decades.
Technological progress needs to match pace with enterprise development and scaling up. The policy and administrative workflows are set up such that decision making time cycles are longer than the product life cycles. Ventures often require significant upfront investments, which can be limited by traditional funding sources. Additionally, streamlining intellectual property (IP) regulations is essential to safeguard these novel deep tech innovations while delivering value to the markets, people and nation.
In your opinion, what role does collaboration between academia, industry, and government play in fostering technological growth?
Bridging the gap between research and commercialization is critical for India's technological progress. To address the complex challenges of the present like healthcare access, climate change, urban development, etc. all the levers of academia, industry, and the government are essential to create on-ground/real world impact. Working in silos also significantly reduces pace and depth.
Consistent innovation that can achieve scale and self-sustaining affordability through right business models and policy infrastructure is the most effective way to unlock exponential value for our system—nationally and globally.
How do you envision the future of technology in India, and what steps are needed to ensure sustained progress and global competitiveness?
To ensure India's sustained technological progress and global competitiveness, strategic steps are crucial: revamping STEM education, boosting R&D investments, nurturing entrepreneurship ecosystems, revamping regulatory infrastructure and processes, developing robust digital infrastructure, fostering public-private partnerships, cultivating an innovation mindset, attracting top talent, ensuring ethical tech development, and enhancing global collaborations. These concerted efforts will strengthen India's position as an innovation hub, enabling homegrown breakthroughs, strategic international alliances, and a commitment to socially responsible tech advancement. By harmonizing policy support, academic brilliance, and industrial dynamism, India can unlock its immense potential, driving economic growth and emerging as a formidable global technology leader.
Sonal Choudhary
Sonal Choudhary, an active member of ACS, is a DST-INSPIRE Fellow at Panjab University, working under the supervision of Dr. Vishal Sharma, specializing in Material Science (Environment Science). Her thesis research work primarily focuses on the development of natural polysaccharide-based hydrogels, which are designed for the detection and removal of emerging contaminants (heavy metals, oil, surfactants, microplastic, industrial waste, pharmaceutical and cosmetics etc.) in water systems. This innovative work has been recognized and published in several high-impact academic journals (ACS, RSC), including ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
In addition to her research, she has successfully obtained a patent for a " Biodegradable packaging film and a process for its preparation thereof." This patent allows her to apply scientific research to practical solutions. Her team has also been working on cost-effective, affordable hydrogel-based water filters that require zero energy consumption for rural areas.
How do you perceive the current state of technological development in India, and what areas do you see experiencing rapid growth?
India's technological development is strong, with rapid growth in the IT sector, industrial technology exports, and initiatives such as Digital India. The country's approach to innovation is inclusive, aiming to benefit the wider population while fostering technological capabilities through strategic policy decisions. The growth in these areas is expected to continue, contributing to India's overall economic development and sustainability.
As a researcher, what role does collaboration between academia, industry, and government play in fostering technological growth?
Collaboration among academia, industry, and government is crucial for advancing technological growth. Each sector brings its own strengths and resources to the table, contributing in unique ways. Academia excels in deep knowledge and research capabilities, focusing on fundamental discoveries and innovations. Industry takes these innovations and turns them into marketable products and services, driving practical applications and generating economic value. Meanwhile, the government supports this symbiotic relationship by providing funding, creating policies, and establishing a regulatory environment that facilitates research and technology commercialization. Through these collaborative efforts, innovation is enhanced, societal needs are addressed, and technological advancements are accelerated across various fields.
How do you envision the future of technology in India, and what steps are needed to ensure sustained progress and global competitiveness?
The future of technology in India is expected to experience significant expansion, driven by various key factors, including a growing and increasingly tech-savvy population, a thriving startup ecosystem, and substantial investments in digital infrastructure. These factors are discussed below:
- Investing in Education and Skills Development: It is crucial for India to continue investing in its educational systems to produce graduates with the necessary skills for the modern technology sectors, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and cybersecurity.
- Promoting Innovation through Industry-Academia Collaboration: Enhancing partnerships between industry and academia can drive innovation and ensure that research activities are aligned with market needs. This collaboration can also help in commercializing research outcomes.
- Government Support and Policy Making: Effective government policies and support play a crucial role in promoting technological advancements. Such policies may include offering tax incentives for research and development, creating a favorable business environment for tech startups and foreign investors, and encouraging investment in tech industries.
- Promoting Entrepreneurship and Innovation: A supportive ecosystem for startups and innovation hubs, combined with easier access to capital and resources, can significantly boost technological advancements by fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation.
Alpana Singh
Alpana Singh is a distinguished Ph.D. researcher working under the guidance of Dr. Tushar Sharma from RGIPT Jais. Her expertise spans in natural synthesis that offers sustainable path forward. Embracing natural methods helps in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating environmental impact. Her research focuses on application of natural surfactants in foaming, emulsification, CO2 capturing and thermal storage, that pave the way for a greener and more sustainable energy future, ensuring energy security for generations to come. Juggling the roles as a researcher and mother, she truly exemplifies resilience and passion, embodying the strength and tenacity of modern women in academia and motherhood.
How do you perceive the current state of technological development in India, and what areas do you see experiencing rapid growth?
The current state of technological development in India is multifaceted, with several sectors experiencing rapid growth and innovation. Being in academia and working on synthesis and characterization of natural surfactants, India is characterized by a growing emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendly manufacturing processes. With increasing awareness of environmental concerns, there is a shift towards natural synthesis methods that minimize the use of harsh chemicals and reduce environmental impact. Also, CCUS and hydrogen production are the emerging areas and are expected to experience rapid growth as India strives towards a sustainable and low-carbon future. By leveraging the country's strengths in manufacturing, research, and innovation, there is great potential to contribute to sustainable development and address global challenges.
As a researcher, what role does collaboration between academia, industry, and government play in fostering technological growth?
Collaboration between academia, industry, and government is most important in harnessing the potential of researchers towards the economic and social requirements of any country. Without the balanced collaboration, the system will be directionless. Academia provides the required research expertise, industry offers real-world applications and resources, and government sets policies and facilitates partnerships. Ultimately, it cultivates an innovation ecosystem that fuels economic growth, job creation, and societal progress. Collaboration between academia, industry, and government is quite essential for creating a vibrant atmosphere that translates scientific discoveries into tangible societal benefits and drives sustainable technological growth.
How do you envision the future of technology in India, and what steps are needed to ensure sustained progress and global competitiveness?
The future of technology in India is directed towards exponential growth, due to focussed advancements in AI, biotech, renewable energy, sustainability, advanced materials and digital innovation. Currently, India is spearheading the technological progress of the world. For this, investments in education, skill development, international collaborations and infrastructure are of prime importance to ensure sustained progress and global competitiveness. Additionally, fostering a collaborative ecosystem along with supportive regulatory framework is the need of the hour. By focusing on these steps, India can leverage its immense potential to become a leader in technological innovation on a global scale, driving economic growth, and addressing societal challenges in the years to come.
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View Last Year's Celebratory Content
National Technology Day: Celebrating India's Achievements in Science and Technology
Each year on May 11, India observes National Technology Day to commemorate India's achievements and advancement in science and technology. To celebrate, ACS Publications presents exclusive interviews, research collections, and more highlighting India's tremendous impact in chemistry and beyond.