14-05-2025
Strategic independence crucial in critical areas: V.K. Saraswat
Strategic independence in critical sectors is essential to safeguard national sovereignty, V.K. Saraswat, NITI Aayog member and former director, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), said here on Wednesday.
Dr. Saraswat was speaking on 'Driving towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat through innovation and Intellectual Property (IP) monetisation' after inaugurating the National Technology Day celebrations at the CSIR-National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST).
Strategy autonomy, resilient supply chains, domestic innovation capacity and technological sovereignty are vital aspects, he said. 'Strategic independence is crucial in critical areas where dependence weakens sovereignty or delays development or limits national innovation,' he said.
India feels proud that weapons and equipment developed by the Indian scientific community in collaboration with industry partners performed so well during Operation Sindoor, he said. These contributions stand testament to the self-reliance India has achieved through the efforts of the scientific community, he said.
Dr. Saraswat said his definition of self-reliance as 'the independence from controls of the international community.' This is vital in all sectors including trade and technology, he said. He defined leadership in science and technology, sustainability and green growth, entrepreneurship and digital economy and youth-led innovation as the foundations of the concept of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat.'
Dr. Saraswat called for an IP-embedded governance model that supports the concept of 'Viksit Bharat's' goals for a $5 trillion economy. He underscored the need to shift India's Intellectual Property landscape from 'portfolio to performance.'
Despite India's large startup base and innovation potential, low patent filings, weak IP culture in academia and MSMEs, and poor technology transfer from labs to markets hinder progress.
C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-NIIST, presided. He highlighted the importance of technologies developed by CSIR-NIIST, emphasising their relevance in addressing pressing societal and industrial needs, including applications in strategic sectors. Five technologies developed by CSIR-NIIST were transferred at the event.
