Events
CyberMedia Awards Night 2026: India must build the next disruption, not chase the last one
Prof. Abhay Karandikar urged India to boost R&D, deepen private investment, and back young innovators to create the next wave of global technology disruption
Manisha Sharma04 Jul 2026
23:53IST
New Update
India’s ambition to become a global technology leader will depend on deeper investments in research, stronger private-sector participation, and the confidence to create the next wave of disruption rather than replicate existing innovations, said Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Member, NITI Aayog
India’s innovation journey needs a stronger research foundation
As India enters an era shaped by artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and deep-tech innovation, the country’s long-term competitiveness will hinge on its ability to strengthen research and development (R&D) Member, NITI Aayog
Delivering the keynote at the CyberMedia Awards Night 2026, Prof. Karandikar argued that India has made remarkable progress through the IT revolution, telecom expansion, and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). However, sustaining that momentum will require a stronger commitment to frontier research and innovation
He pointed out that India’s gross expenditure on R&D as a percentage of GDP remains significantly below that of developed economies. Equally concerning, only about 35% of the country’s total R&D spending comes from the private sector, while governments and public institutions account for nearly two-thirds of the investment. In many advanced economies, the ratio is reversed, with industry driving the majority of research spending
For India to emerge as a technology creator rather than a technology consumer, he argued, private enterprises must play a much larger role in funding cutting-edge research
Government is laying the groundwork for deep tech
Prof. Karandikar highlighted several national initiatives designed to strengthen India’s research ecosystem and encourage long-term innovation
These include the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), the National Quantum Mission with an allocation of Rs 6,000 crore, the National Mission on Cyber Physical Systems, the IndiaAI Mission, and the Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund
Unlike traditional financing, the RDI Fund has been designed to provide patient capital for technologies that require longer development cycles and involve higher levels of risk
The broader objective, he said, is to use government funding as a catalyst for significantly larger private-sector investment. Over the next decade, the ambition is to mobilise nearly Rs 10 lakh crore in private investment and help create five to ten globally competitive companies working in advanced R&D domains
India’s startup story needs a deep-tech push
India’s startup ecosystem has expanded rapidly, with nearly two lakh startups now registered with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Yet Prof. Karandikar noted that deep-tech ventures continue to face funding challenges because investors often favour businesses with quicker commercial returns
This funding gap, he suggested, could limit India’s ability to build globally competitive technologies in sectors such as AI, quantum computing, advanced engineering, and scientific research
He also linked the issue to India’s demographic advantage. The country has one of the world’s largest pools of young scientific and engineering talent, but without sustained investment and opportunities, that advantage could become a missed opportunity
Building a stronger innovation ecosystem, therefore, requires collaboration between government, industry, academia, and investors to support technologies with longer gestation periods
Don’t chase disruption; create it
While AI has dominated technology discussions over the past three years, Prof. Karandikar cautioned against measuring India’s progress by how closely it follows global leaders
Instead, he urged the technology ecosystem to focus on creating the next disruption
The future of innovation, he argued, cannot be predicted. Just as few anticipated the rapid emergence of generative AI, the next breakthrough may come from an entirely different direction. India should therefore invest in scientific capability, research, and young innovators rather than simply replicating technologies that have already transformed global markets
He also noted that the next major innovation may not necessarily require the largest AI infrastructure or the biggest computing investments. Instead, it could emerge from breakthrough ideas developed by researchers, startups, and entrepreneurs working on entirely new approaches
Measuring digital progress differently
Prof. Karandikar also called for a broader definition of digital progress. For years, countries measured success by the number of people connected through telecom networks and internet services. While connectivity remains essential, he argued that the next phase of digital transformation should be judged by how effectively technology improves productivity, strengthens the economy, and delivers trusted digital services
In the AI era, nations will increasingly be distinguished by the quality of the intelligent, resilient, and trusted digital systems they build rather than the size of their digital economies alone
A call to build India’s next technology wave
Concluding his address, Prof. Karandikar expressed confidence that India has the ingredients needed to build a globally competitive innovation ecosystem. Government support, policy initiatives, a vibrant startup landscape, and a large pool of young talent have created a strong foundation
The next challenge, he suggested, is to convert that potential into globally disruptive technologies
Rather than asking how quickly India can catch up with the latest breakthroughs, policymakers, researchers, investors, and enterprises should focus on creating the innovations that define the next technology wave. That, he argued, will determine India’s place in the global digital economy
33rd Dataquest ICT Awards.
