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The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Some unflattering comparisons for Scotland to absorb
It was therefore fascinating to read the report on Singapore's economic success recently published by Oxford Economics for The Hunter Foundation. Several columns have already been written in response, with some challenging the relevance of Singapore's experience to the economic challenges we face here in Scotland. I have no doubt that Sir Tom Hunter relishes the debate. The transformation of Singapore's economy is undeniably extraordinary. In 60 years, the country has changed from one of the world's poorest and most resource-limited states into the eighth-richest in the world with a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita 1.4 times higher than the UK. Understanding how this was achieved is well worth our attention. There are some unflattering comparisons for Scotland to absorb; in education outcomes, population health and industry productivity. The quality and efficiency of Singapore's transport infrastructure and the management of its public realm are all immediately apparent to any first-time visitor. Singapore has not just caught up economically with the more established developed countries, it has well surpassed them. The section to which I was especially drawn was that on Singapore's research and innovation. The country now consistently ranks among the top 10 nations of the Global Innovation Index produced by the World Intellectual Property Organisation. This success is underpinned by strong government direction, guided by a long-term innovation strategy that clearly defines national research priorities. Our own delegation met with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) which leads so much of that work. We could see how advanced their thinking is and how much of an advantage there is in having a clear and consistent commitment to developing expertise in a targeted set of technologies. I know the usual argument against government innovation strategies is that governments should not get involved in picking "winners". They will more than likely get it wrong. Well, Singapore offers a compelling counterexample. Take just one case study: in the late 1960s, the Singaporean government decided that the arrival of containerised shipping would transform global trade. In 1969, it committed to build the country's first container terminal and the first in Southeast Asia. That bold decision, starting from a comparatively small port, set Singapore on the road to having one of the largest trading ports in the world, second only to Shanghai for the tonnage it processes. The Hunter Foundation's report argues that Scotland should concentrate its efforts on a small number of high-growth sectors, choosing renewable energy and the low-carbon economy, life sciences and medical technology and software, big data and artificial intelligence (AI). We can debate whether these are the only options. They are all certainly set out in the UK's industrial strategy but so too are advanced manufacturing, financial services and the creative industries. Each offers its own potential for economic growth and global competitiveness. Read more We also have a national network of what are named "catapults" - centres of innovation excellence part-funded by government and spread around the UK, all aiming to find ways of accelerating technology research into commercial exploitation. In Glasgow, for example, the National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland, the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, the Satellite Applications Catapult, the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre and the Compound Semi-Conductor Applications Catapult are all part of the wider UK network. Without going into the specifics of each technology, my point is simple: we have a rich set of options we could exploit and these are all emerging from our genuinely world- leading academic institutions. We already have examples of agencies like Singapore's A*STAR. The UK Government has been doing the consultation work to decide what the national industrial strategy should be. The point is that we have all the ingredients needed to rise to the challenge posed by The Hunter Foundation report and to position Scotland at the forefront of high-potential sectors. I would add one other ingredient that we are experimenting with in Glasgow. Both the University of Strathclyde and the University of Glasgow are using the innovation district concept to nurture complex systems of innovation support. The idea is to bring academic research teams, entrepreneurs, businesses both large and small, investors, government agencies and civic bodies all together in relatively small geographies - making it more likely they will collaborate and turn technology into commercial success. Glasgow has three very different innovation districts already in place; in our city centre, along the River Clyde, and at Glasgow Airport. One consequence has been the emergence of Glasgow Technology Week – delivering more than 40 events exploring all that is happening in the city region. And Glasgow Technology Week is taking place right now. There are many aspects of The Hunter Foundation report that are deeply sobering but I would argue at the very least that we can make meaningful and early progress in developing our innovation economy. Singapore currently ranks fourth in the Global Innovation Index, with the UK close behind at fifth, which is evidence that the foundations are already in place. The Scottish Government's international trade programme is helping small and medium-sized companies grow their exports. It is also giving Scottish companies and chambers of commerce the chance to learn how other countries are developing their innovation economies. We will be back in Singapore in the autumn and we will be reflecting on the insights and challenges set out in The Hunter Foundation Report. Stuart Patrick is chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
From India to the World: Building a global tech brand
For years, India was the world's IT backbone, a services superpower. But today, the country is undergoing a silent revolution. It's no longer just about execution excellence. India is now a fertile ground for product innovation, building for the world, from the ground up. Its rise to 39th place in the Global Innovation Index in 2024, up from 81st in 2015, proves that India is no longer just participating in the innovation economy but helping shape Back Office: India's Ascent in Product LeadershipHistorically, India's contribution to tech was in enabling others' visions. Now, we're shaping our own. What changed? The answer lies in the convergence of three powerful trends: A new breed of founders who've worked globally and returned with ambition. A new generation of builders who design with customers at the core. Infrastructure and ecosystem maturity that now rivals established global tech hubs. From Postman to Freshworks, Zoho to BrowserStack, we no longer ask for a seat at the table. We're building the table. The mindset shift: From 'Service Delivery' to 'Vision Crafting' India's legacy in IT services played a crucial role in shaping our tech DNA. Services sharpened our execution, teaching us discipline, process rigour, and a deep commitment to delivery. Working with global enterprises, Indian companies became experts in meeting deadlines, managing complex requirements, and scaling teams rapidly. Companies like Infosys, TCS, and Wipro built their global reputation by executing flawlessly on client specifications. This foundation of execution excellence gave rise to a generation of technologists who understood what it meant to build at scale, maintain reliability, and serve demanding customers. But building products is a different challenge altogether. It's not just about meeting existing needs but imagining future possibilities. Product-first companies must anticipate change, think holistically about user experience, and take bold bets. In a product-led mindset, the shift is clear: Designing for global needs, not just local fixes: Build with universality in mind, creating solutions that scale across countries, industries, and cultures. Investing in vision, not just velocity: Speed matters, but having a strong, differentiated product vision creates long-term value. Measuring success in impact, not input: It's not about how much effort was spent—it's about the real-world difference the product makes for users. This mindset shift is not a rejection of our services legacy, it's an evolution. The execution muscle built through years of service excellence now must work with creativity, curiosity, and customer-led innovation. That's how product leaders are born. Why India is the ideal launchpad for global products India offers a paradoxical advantage: constraints and complexity. Operating within constraints forces clarity, efficiency, and innovation. The product teams are accustomed to building cost-effective, elegant solutions with skills like frugal engineering , resilient system design, platform adaptability, and inclusive UX, that translate brilliantly on the global stage. The linguistic, cultural, and economic complexity creates resilient, adaptive thinkers. We design for nuance and embrace ambiguity. When you build from India, you build with empathy, and empathy scales. These conditions produce products that are: Modular and configurable Exceptionally cost-efficient Built with global architecture from day one Breaking Perception Barriers with Proof, Not Pitch Despite all progress, biases remain. Global buyers still ask: 'Can a product built in India scale?' The answer isn't a marketing slide—it's consistent execution. Companies like Zoho, with millions of global users and no external funding, or Postman, which powers over 25 million developers worldwide, are redefining what 'Made in India' means. They show that credibility is earned through relentless delivery and obsessive customer focus. The Rise of 'India First, Global Always' Products Indian-built platforms are winning because they embrace a powerful duality: Frugality in engineering, born out of necessity. Ambition in vision, born out of confidence. Whether it's Gupshup, a leading conversational messaging platform powering billions of messages across industries, or Hasura, an open-source engine redefining how developers build and scale backends with GraphQL, these products aren't playing catch-up; they're defining the pace. Today, India doesn't just follow global tech trends; it sets them. From redefining digital payments with UPI to Postman setting the gold standard in API development to Zoho building a global SaaS powerhouse without a single dollar of external funding, India is leading by example. A Defining Decade Ahead India stands at a pivotal moment. With deep talent, growing access to capital, and a maturing startup ecosystem, the conditions for global product leadership are finally aligned. In 2024 alone, India's startup ecosystem attracted $13.7 billion in venture capital funding—a 1.4x increase over the previous year, underscoring the nation's resilience and growing appeal to global investors. But building a world-class product brand from India takes more than raw potential. It takes: Deep belief in your mission. Relentless attention to craft. A refusal to compromise on global standards. This is not about 'catching up.' It's about setting the pace and doing it on our terms. Because of the next generation of global tech leaders? They're not just coming from Silicon Valley. They're coming from Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai, and beyond. And we're just getting started.
India Gazette
18-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Union Minister Jitendra Singh hails IIT Ropar for promoting Agri StartUps in smaller towns
New Delhi [India], May 18 (ANI): Union minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh has hailed the IIT Ropar, which is relatively new compared to other IITs having been established only in 2008, for promoting Agri StartUps in smaller towns and expressed satisfaction at the fact that nearly 50 percent of India's StartUps are now from Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns. Addressing the Pragati Founder Forum, hosted by IIT Ropar and supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Jitendra Singh observed that India's StartUp revolution is no longer confined to metro cities, the Ministry of Science and Technology said in a press release. In a compelling and forward-looking address, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Jitendra Singh debunked the myth that only IT ventures can be StartUps and hailed IIT Ropar for promoting high-potential Agri-StartUps through transformation of traditional sectors. 'This shift is a healthy sign of deep-rooted innovation,' he said, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for democratizing entrepreneurship across India through the clarion call 'StandUp India, StartUp India' from the ramparts of Red Fort. Jitendra Singh underlined the role of StartUps as 'enablers' propelling India from the 'Fragile Five' to a future among the world's top five economies by 2047. Highlighting India's meteoric rise from 81st to 39th in the Global Innovation Index, he pointed to the role of S&T startups, Agri-innovation, and deep tech in contributing to India's economic growth. The S&T minister also emphasized that 70 percent of resource allocation under the upcoming Anusandhan NRF (National Research Foundation) will come from non-government sectors, boosting public-private synergy. Singh showcased the Purple Revolution as a hallmark of grassroots innovation -- lavender cultivation that began in hilly towns of Jammu & Kashmir, now flourishing in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with over 3,000 startups profiting in this niche. '30 percent of these entrepreneurs are not even graduates,' the Minister noted, highlighting how government technical and financial support coupled with market linkages to perfumeries in Mumbai is transforming rural India into an enterprise hub. Singh awarded under the Investment category shortlisted after an exhaustive process. These StartUps were namely the Blu Cocoon Digital Pvt. Ltd. ; Rezovate Constructions Pvt. Ltd.; Wawe Technologies; Biofield Power Pvt. Ltd.; Karmath Engineering Pvt. Ltd. Singh also launched the 'SPRINT' - Haryana and Telangana Editions: Regional deep-tech innovation programs to support early-stage startups. The Minister unveiled the PRAGATI Report: A strategic blueprint for inclusive innovation and public-private partnership. The Minister launched the 'Farming on the Edge' Thematic Report: An in-depth study of challenges faced by small and marginal farmers. Singh virtually inaugurated Office of Intellectual Property & Technology Commercialisation (OITC): A step forward in IP creation and commercialization for Indian startups. Touching upon India's recent military-technological advancements, he referred to Operation Sindoor, a showcase of India's leadership in tech-enabled warfare, underlining the indigenous development, technology transfer, and joint efforts of private and government sectors -- with hubs in Hyderabad and Bengaluru. 'Early industry linkage is the key to StartUp success,' Singh advised, calling for awareness among students and parents alike. 'Let us introspect -- how many of those who joined expensive coaching centers over 25 years made it to the civil services?' he asked. He concluded by saying that 'As India accelerates towards its vision for 2047, the message is clear: Innovation, inclusion and intent are the pillars of India's ascent to global leadership.' Rekha Sharma, MP Rajya Sabha and former NCW Chairperson, who was also present for the programme emphasised the critical need for inclusive innovation and increased participation of women in startups. Prof. Abhay Karnadikar, Secretary, DST, highlighted India's rapid momentum in AI, Cyber-Physical Systems, and emerging technologies, reiterating the strategic role of the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). (ANI)
Business Mayor
18-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Union Minister Jitendra Singh hails IIT Ropar for promoting Agri StartUps in smaller towns
Union minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh has hailed the IIT Ropar, which is relatively new compared to other IITs having been established only in 2008, for promoting Agri StartUps in smaller towns and expressed satisfaction at the fact that nearly 50 percent of India's StartUps are now from Tier 2 and Tier 3 the Pragati Founder Forum, hosted by IIT Ropar and supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Jitendra Singh observed that India's StartUp revolution is no longer confined to metro cities, the Ministry of Science and Technology said in a press a compelling and forward-looking address, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Jitendra Singh debunked the myth that only IT ventures can be StartUps and hailed IIT Ropar for promoting high-potential Agri-StartUps through transformation of traditional sectors. 'This shift is a healthy sign of deep-rooted innovation,' he said, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for democratizing entrepreneurship across India through the clarion call 'StandUp India, StartUp India' from the ramparts of Red Singh underlined the role of StartUps as 'enablers' propelling India from the 'Fragile Five' to a future among the world's top five economies by 2047. Highlighting India's meteoric rise from 81st to 39th in the Global Innovation Index, he pointed to the role of S&T startups, Agri-innovation, and deep tech in contributing to India's economic S&T minister also emphasized that 70 percent of resource allocation under the upcoming Anusandhan NRF (National Research Foundation) will come from non-government sectors, boosting public-private showcased the Purple Revolution as a hallmark of grassroots innovation — lavender cultivation that began in hilly towns of Jammu & Kashmir, now flourishing in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with over 3,000 startups profiting in this niche.'30 percent of these entrepreneurs are not even graduates,' the Minister noted, highlighting how government technical and financial support coupled with market linkages to perfumeries in Mumbai is transforming rural India into an enterprise awarded under the Investment category shortlisted after an exhaustive process. These StartUps were namely the Blu Cocoon Digital Pvt. Ltd. ; Rezovate Constructions Pvt. Ltd.; Wawe Technologies; Biofield Power Pvt. Ltd.; Karmath Engineering Pvt. also launched the 'SPRINT' – Haryana and Telangana Editions: Regional deep-tech innovation programs to support early-stage Minister unveiled the PRAGATI Report: A strategic blueprint for inclusive innovation and public-private Minister launched the 'Farming on the Edge' Thematic Report: An in-depth study of challenges faced by small and marginal virtually inaugurated Office of Intellectual Property & Technology Commercialisation (OITC): A step forward in IP creation and commercialization for Indian upon India's recent military-technological advancements, he referred to Operation Sindoor, a showcase of India's leadership in tech-enabled warfare, underlining the indigenous development, technology transfer, and joint efforts of private and government sectors — with hubs in Hyderabad and Bengaluru.'Early industry linkage is the key to StartUp success,' Singh advised, calling for awareness among students and parents alike. 'Let us introspect — how many of those who joined expensive coaching centers over 25 years made it to the civil services?' he concluded by saying that 'As India accelerates towards its vision for 2047, the message is clear: Innovation, inclusion and intent are the pillars of India's ascent to global leadership.'Rekha Sharma, MP Rajya Sabha and former NCW Chairperson, who was also present for the programme emphasised the critical need for inclusive innovation and increased participation of women in startups. Prof. Abhay Karnadikar, Secretary, DST, highlighted India's rapid momentum in AI, Cyber-Physical Systems, and emerging technologies, reiterating the strategic role of the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS).
Hans India
18-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Nearly 50 pc startups now emerging from tier 2 and 3 towns: Minister
Nearly 50 per cent of startups are now emerging from tier 2 and 3 towns, Union Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, said on Sunday. Addressing the Pragati Founder Forum, hosted by IIT Ropar and supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Dr Singh observed that India's startUp revolution is no longer confined to metro cities. He hailed IIT Ropar for promoting high-potential agri startups through transformation of traditional sectors. 'This shift is a healthy sign of deep-rooted innovation,' the minister said, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for democratising entrepreneurship across India through the clarion call 'StandUp India, StartUp India'. Dr Singh underlined the role of startups as 'enablers," propelling India from the 'Fragile Five' to a future among the world's top five economies by 2047. Highlighting India's meteoric rise from 81st to 39th in the 'Global Innovation Index', he pointed to the role of science and technology startups, agri-innovation, and deep tech in contributing to India's economic growth. The minister also emphasised that 70 per cent of resource allocation under the upcoming 'Anusandhan NRF' (National Research Foundation) will come from non-government sectors, boosting public-private synergy. Dr Singh showcased the Purple Revolution as a hallmark of grassroots innovation — lavender cultivation that began in hilly towns of Jammu and Kashmir, now flourishing in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with over 3,000 startups profiting in this niche. Touching upon India's recent military-technological advancements, Dr Singh referred to 'Operation Sindoor', a showcase of India's leadership in tech-enabled warfare, underlining the indigenous development, technology transfer, and joint efforts of private and government sectors — with hubs in Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Dr Singh said that 'as India accelerates towards its vision for 2047, the message is clear: Innovation, inclusion and intent are the pillars of India's ascent to global leadership.'
