National Technology Day in India serves as a poignant reminder of the nation's extraordinary journey in the technological realm, characterized by groundbreaking achievements and a flourishing culture of innovation. With stalwarts like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, HCL, and Wipro spearheading the global IT landscape, alongside a vibrant startup ecosystem teeming with youthful ingenuity, India's technological prowess stands unrivaled.
From Schools to Startups: Cultivating Young Innovators
This year's theme, "From School to Startups," aptly encapsulates the pivotal role of nurturing a future generation primed to steer technological advancement. Educational institutions are proactively integrating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs, igniting a fervor for technology among young minds and laying a robust foundation for future innovators poised to revolutionize the startup landscape.
"In the face of challenges, we emphasize sustainability, resonating this ethos through this year's theme: 'School to Startups - Igniting Young Minds to Innovate," asserts Mr. Sooraj Balakrishnan, Associate Director and Head of Marketing, Acer India.
The groundwork for an entrepreneurial mindset begins in our schools and colleges, where the next generation is groomed to lead from the forefront, transforming from job seekers to job creators. "We believe in nurturing local talent and enhancing skills to foster innovation for both Indian and global markets through dedicated technical training sessions, e-learning platforms, and continual opportunities for skill enhancement," underscores Anku Jain, Managing Director, MediaTek India.
"This year's theme, 'From Schools to Startups: Igniting Young Minds to Innovate,' underscores our commitment to nurturing the next wave of tech leaders, fostering a culture of sustainability and innovation that paves the way for a brighter tomorrow," echoes Ram Meenakshisundaram, Chief Technology Officer, Virtusa Corporation.
“Our recent and ongoing collaborations with tech organization such as Hexart, Adobe etc. is a testimony to this commitment where the idea is to nurture the talent through tech. Our collaboration with Adobe in the AI Enablement Program is key to driving AI innovation among startups aiming to solve significant social problems,” says Nidhi Bhasin, CEO, Nasscom Foundation.
Thriving Startup Ecosystem and Emergence of New Age Technologies: Catalyzing Disruption and Transformation
India's startup landscape brims with creative fervor as young entrepreneurs harness cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to craft transformative solutions across diverse sectors. A recent report by NASSCOM projects that the Indian AI market will soar to $17 billion by 2027, underscoring its vast potential as startups labor tirelessly to effect change. From healthcare and agriculture to fintech and education, these startups are reshaping traditional markets, ushering in a more inclusive and efficient future.
"The time has never been better for us to focus on developing technology that can have impact at a massive scale. Be it AI, ML, drones, IoT – these innovations should find opportunity to help uplift an economy and create a sustainable future. We can all come together to help India achieve its goal of becoming a knowledge economy and AI capital," says P Saravanan, Vice President, Cloud Engineering, Oracle India
"India's steadfast focus on AI's rapidly evolving innovation cycle bolsters its growth trajectory. Endowed with a vast talent pool, supportive government policies, robust academic institutions, and world-class research and innovation facilities, India boasts some of the richest data sets for AI innovation. E-governance platforms in India are poised to evolve into more intelligent, community-centric solutions through AI," affirms Sanket Atal, Managing Director-Operations and Site Lead-Technology, Product, Salesforce India.
The advent of AR and VR technologies heralds profound implications for India's business landscape. By leveraging these tools, organizations can elevate customer engagement, forge deeper connections, and streamline the purchasing journey. "Let us embrace the transformative potential of AR and VR in revolutionizing sales technology. Together, we can unlock new possibilities, redefine customer experiences, and propel our industry toward a brighter, more innovative future," urges Venkataraman Dhanapathy, Vice President-Sales & Strategy, Crayon Software Experts India.
Gone are the days when technology was viewed merely as an auxiliary tool for businesses. Today, it is a primary driver of value creation, intricately woven into the fabric of modern enterprises. "From design to virtual retail, we continuously push boundaries and embrace cutting-edge methodologies. Today, we celebrate the transformative power of technology in shaping the future of fashion and its enduring influence on our industry's evolution," reveals Sidhant Keshwani, Founder & CEO, Libas.
Fostering a Culture of Innovation
As India emerges as a global tech hub and innovation epicenter, it becomes imperative for government, businesses, and academic institutions to actively participate in this transformative journey toward a more self-reliant India powered by technology. "Celebrating Technology Day is not merely about acknowledging advancements in the digital realm; it's a testament to the enduring culture of creativity propelling technological progress. It's a moment to reflect on its profound impact across industries, innovations, and the limitless potential it holds," suggests Sanjoy Bhattacharya, Director of Sales & Marketing, IT Business, ViewSonic India.
However, fostering a culture of innovation necessitates the concerted efforts of academic institutions in reshaping students' mindsets and encouraging them to acquire skills vital for embracing challenges. "With a pool of 5 million digitally skilled workers, national science and technology missions, and a robust startup ecosystem that champions emerging technologies like AI, Cybersecurity, 5G/Edge, and Quantum Computing, among others, we are witnessing India's next phase of technological growth," outlines Anil Sethi, Vice President, Infrastructure Solutions Group, Dell Technologies India. According to him, disruptive technologies such as Generative AI will be pivotal in unlocking new possibilities in digital transformation, enabling businesses to make informed decisions while fostering customer trust.
“Let's harness the power of technology to shape a brighter tomorrow, where every challenge becomes an opportunity, and every idea transforms into reality. Together, let's build a future where innovation knows no bounds and where technology becomes the catalyst for a prosperous nation,” says Yogesh Agrawal, CEO and Co-Founder, Consistent Infosystems Pvt Ltd
Given the increased pace of technology adoption, innovation and acceptance, it is highly likely that India will have its presence strongly felt on different technological fronts, be it cloud, AI, blockchain, automation. “We believe that the next decade will be marked by unparalleled technological progress in AI, cloud, and connectivity presenting new opportunities for India to strengthen its foothold in the global technology landscape," adds Tarun Chhabra, Country Manager, Nokia India
Digital Payments: A Nation in Motion
India's digital infrastructure is experiencing a renaissance, as evidenced by the exponential growth of digital payments. In 2023, the nation recorded a staggering 114 billion digital transactions, signaling a seismic shift toward a cashless economy. This 90-fold surge in retail digital payments over the past decade (2012-13 to 2023-24) underscores India's status as a global frontrunner and a key architect of the digital future.
The Imperative of Cybersecurity
On National Technology Day, it is imperative to acknowledge not only technology's pivotal role in propelling progress but also the urgent need to fortify India's digital infrastructure against cyber threats. Ranging from state-sponsored attacks to sophisticated criminal operations, cyber threats pose significant risks to our digital ecosystem. "To safeguard the country's critical infrastructure effectively, we must adopt a comprehensive approach. By collaborating with industry peers, government agencies, and cybersecurity experts, we can glean valuable insights into evolving threat landscapes and implement proactive defense strategies," asserts Prashanth GJ, CEO, TechnoBind Solutions.
A strong emphasis on innovation, simplification, customer-centricity, and social responsibility underscores the pillars that necessitate a safety net in the digital age. Government and institutional stakeholders responsible for managing digital infrastructure must work in tandem to cultivate a robust culture of cybersecurity, heighten awareness of key protective measures, and safeguard the nation's assets. "We anticipate the enactment of the recently announced Digital Personal Data Protection Act and stand ready to leverage Seqrite’s data classification solutions to support its implementation. We remain steadfast in steering the cybersecurity and data security landscape toward a brighter, more secure future," shares Vishal Salvi, Chief Executive Officer, Quick Heal Technologies Limited.
With threat actors harnessing sophisticated AI algorithms to develop potent and evasive cyber attacks capable of circumventing traditional security tactics, there's a heightened awareness and an urgent need to augment cyber budgets. A recent PWC survey revealed that a staggering 99% of respondents acknowledged the necessity of increasing their cyber security investments. “Merely increasing budgets is not enough; organizations must also adopt advanced strategies such as zero trust architecture, continuous threat exposure management, corporate cyber intelligence, and insider threat response systems to fortify their defenses against the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape. As India navigates these challenges, its tech sector is set to play an increasingly pivotal role on the global stage," advises Sanjeev Chabbra, Managing Director & CEO, Beetel Teletech Ltd.
The scarcity of cybersecurity experts continues to remain a challenge that needs to be addressed if India has to lead the technology-led future. “By equipping the next generation of tech professionals with essential skills and guidance, we can bolster our defenses against cyber threats and pave the way for a secure digital future. Let us join forces in safeguarding our nation's technological advancement, one mentoring relationship at a time,” argues Geetha Ramanna, Director, Software Development and Network Security, Sophos.
In Conclusion
From nurturing innovation in classrooms to empowering disruptive startups and spearheading the digital payments revolution, India's unwavering commitment to technology is palpable. Let us commemorate National Technology Day by acknowledging the remarkable strides of the past and embracing the boundless potential that lies ahead.
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