The Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises launched six technology innovation platforms to promote domestic production and focus on globally competitive manufacturing in India. The objective is to set up international production leaders in the country and encourage companies to explore a China plus one production strategy.
Union Minister Prakash Javakar claimed that these platforms would enable the integration of all India’s technical resources and the industry to a unified platform to identify technological challenges facing the domestic industry and solutions for crowdsourcing.
The minister further stated that this would help India achieve its aim of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat and a competitive manufacturing sector across the globe by encouraging the development of important “mother” manufacturing technology through the Platform’s “Grand Challenges”.
Furthermore, Prakash Javadekar tweeted, “A country that innovates advances and prospers. The technology innovation platforms unveiled today will help India become a global technology and innovation hub by promoting #AatmaNirbharBharat in technology solutions.”
IIT Madras, the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI), the International Centre for Automotive Technology (iCAT), the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), BHEL, and HMT, in collaboration with IISc Banglore, have developed the six technology platforms. These platforms will concentrate on developing technologies that would enable India to compete globally in the manufacturing industry.
Industry (including original equipment manufacturers, Tier-1, Tier-2, and Tier-3 companies, as well as raw material manufacturing companies), start-ups, domain experts/professionals, R&D institutions, and academic institutions (colleges and universities) will be able to provide innovative solutions, suggestions, and expert opinions on issues involving manufacturing techniques through these platforms, according to the Ministry.
In addition, the exchange of research and development information and other technological aspects will be promoted. More than 39,000 students, experts, institutes, industries, and laboratories have already been registered on these platforms.
The target is to build global production leaders in India by eliminating sectoral disabilities and creating economies of scale to build a comprehensive ecosystem element in India. This comes in the wake of last year’s launch of Production Linked Incentive (PLI) programmes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed global companies in February to take advantage of PLI plans of ₹1.97 trillion in 13 sectors and to grow production in India.
According to Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Heavy Industries and Enterprises, these platforms are a gift to the nation as part of the ‘AzadikaAmrutMahotsav-Celebration of 75 Years of Independence.’
