India now ranks amongst the top five countries when it comes to 45 of the 64 technologies as per the ASPI Critical Technology Tracker. The study tracks the development of critical technologies, including the race for scientific and research breakthroughs, and the ability to retain global talent. The study also documents crucial ingredients that underpin the development and control of the world’s most important technologies, and how it measures up to a country’s economic prowess.
Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & IT responding to the findings, stated, “This is a testament to the progress India has made in the last ten years on the manufacturing front.. When it comes to vaccine and medical countermeasure technologies, India ranks fifth, while on advanced aircraft engines, we are ranked ahead of France and the United Kingdom, at number three. On a high-specification machining process and biofuels, we are rated higher than the United States of America even, and second only to China”, Vaishnaw elaborated.
“The government has delivered a big push for manufacturing in the last ten years, even when many in the opposition have opposed it. These technologies must not be viewed in manufacturing alone but from a supply chain perspective as well. In the years to come, these industries will create a significant number of employment opportunities for our youth population as well. Take this for example. In protective cybertechnologies, advanced data analytics, machine learning, and distributed ledgers, India ranks at number three, ahead of its European Counterparts. This shows how our sustained focus, both on the manufacturing and services sector, is beginning to show results’, Vaishnaw commented.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), established in 2001, operates as an independent and non-partisan think tank. ASPI plays a crucial role in educating the public on various strategic matters, fostering new ideas for governmental policies, and engaging with global strategic thought.
