Context

• India is gradually shifting from being primarily a technology adopter to becoming a technology creator.
• Public research institutions, universities, corporate R&D centres and deep-tech startups are increasingly contributing to indigenous innovation.
• Developments in Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors, CAR-T cancer therapy, space technology, 5G/6G and AI-enabled healthcare demonstrate this transformation.
• India has therefore developed the foundations of an innovation economy, but converting scientific capabilities into sustained technological and economic strength remains a challenge.

The Three Pillars of India’s Innovation Ecosystem

• A strong innovation economy rests on three interconnected pillars: public research, private-sector R&D and deep-tech entrepreneurship.
• Public institutions undertake long-term research, universities develop knowledge and skilled talent, while corporations provide capital and industrial capabilities.
• Startups increasingly transform laboratory discoveries into marketable products.
• The growing interaction among these sectors is creating an integrated innovation pipeline, linking scientific research with industrial production and commercial applications.

Patent Growth: Progress with Important Limitations

• India's patent filings increased from over 1,10,000 in 2024-25 to more than 1,43,000 in 2025-26, a 30.2% rise.
• Domestic applicants account for nearly seven in ten filings, indicating greater participation by Indian researchers, companies and institutions.
• Yet patent applications do not automatically translate into successful innovation.
• India had just over 2,40,000 patents in force in 2025, compared with approximately 5.7 million in China, 3.5 million in the U.S. and 2.1 million in Japan.
• India also spends less than 1% of GDP on R&D, substantially below China and the U.S. Increasing expenditure and improving the conversion of research into commercially successful technologies are therefore essential.

GaN Technology and Strategic Self-Reliance

• The development of Gallium Nitride-based semiconductor technology illustrates the strategic value of indigenous research.
• GaN-based MMICs are important for advanced radar, defence, space systems and next-generation communications.
• DRDO laboratories developed indigenous GaN capabilities, helping India reduce dependence on restricted foreign technologies.
• Technology transfer is now expanding GaN applications to 5G/6G infrastructure, electric vehicles and renewable-energy systems.
• The emergence of AGNIT Semiconductors, a spin-off from IISc, demonstrates how public and academic research can move towards commercialisation.
• Such developments strengthen technological sovereignty and strategic autonomy.

From Technology Implementer to Standard Setter

• India is also seeking a greater role in shaping global telecommunications standards. The Bharat 6G Alliance aims to contribute 10% of global 6G patents by 2030.
• Its members have made thousands of patent filings and increased technical contributions to 3GPP.
• Although applications are not equivalent to granted or standard-essential patents, participation in standards development can determine future market influence and intellectual-property ownership.
• The rise of Jio Platforms among major international patent filers indicates India's growing effort to move from technology implementation towards standard-setting and intellectual-property ownership.

Deep-Tech Startups Expand the Innovation Frontier

• India's startup ecosystem is increasingly moving beyond conventional digital services towards deep technology, advanced manufacturing and space innovation.
• Pixxel Space is developing hyperspectral imaging through satellite technology, while Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos are advancing indigenous launch technologies.
• Such ventures combine engineering expertise, scientific research and cost-efficient innovation.
• Government initiatives and private investment are particularly important because deep-tech companies face long development cycles, high capital requirements and substantial technological risks. 

Healthcare Innovation and Inclusive Technology

• Innovation is also transforming healthcare. ImmunoACT's NexCAR19, India's indigenous CAR-T cell therapy, demonstrates the potential to make advanced cancer treatment considerably more affordable.
• Similarly, Remidio Innovative Solutions uses smartphone-based retinal imaging and AI to detect conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
• These examples reflect frugal innovation, where advanced technologies are redesigned for affordability, accessibility and large-scale deployment.

Bridging the Innovation-to-Market Gap

• India must address several structural weaknesses. R&D expenditure needs to rise, particularly private investment in high-risk research.
• Technology-transfer mechanisms between public institutions and industry must become more efficient, while patent examination capacity should expand.
• The most important challenge is the commercialisation gap between research and the first paying customer.
• Startups and researchers require better access to capital, testing facilities, manufacturing infrastructure, regulatory support and markets.
• Stronger industry-academia partnerships, standardised technology-transfer frameworks and patient capital can help bridge this gap. 

Conclusion

• India is gradually moving from being a technology consumer and implementer towards becoming a technology creator and potential standard setter.
• Public research, corporate R&D and deep-tech entrepreneurship are increasingly reinforcing one another.
• GaN semiconductors demonstrate strategic technological capability; 5G/6G research reflects growing participation in global standards; while space and healthcare startups show the commercial and social potential of indigenous innovation.
• India may not yet be an innovation superpower, but it is increasingly developing the institutions, intellectual property, technological capabilities and enterprises needed to build an innovation-led economy.