Deep-tech innovation, artificial intelligence and inclusive technologies will define a developed India if the nation creates affordable and globally competitive solutions that reach millions, according to Dr. Raghunath A. Mashelkar, Fellow of the Royal Society and former Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. He stated that India must shift from consuming global technologies to producing world-leading advances through deep science, AI, public-private partnerships and the principle of delivering more value at lower cost. Speaking at a Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry event on innovation lessons, he identified government procurement rules that prioritize the lowest bidder as a major obstacle to progress. He urged authorities to act as risk-sharing partners instead of simply buying the cheapest options. India’s opportunity lies in developing high-performance technologies that use fewer resources yet remain accessible to large populations, he said. Innovation should be judged by its capacity to address major societal problems at scale rather than by technical complexity or high prices. Excellence, affordability and inclusion must form the core of the national model. India has already produced competitive advances in affordable healthcare, digital infrastructure and AI diagnostics despite resource constraints, including smartphone-based tuberculosis detection and low-cost cancer screening tools. Industry should move beyond adopting foreign technologies and instead create new practices, building on successes in digital services, affordable connectivity and green hydrogen. AI must function as a supportive tool that preserves human judgment and ethics. Another speaker at the event noted that innovation now shapes economic strength and inclusive growth, requiring solutions that deliver broader value.
