India Poised to Become a Global Leader in Science for Scale

India has witnessed a remarkable transformation in the computing landscape, driven by the growth of the IT services industry, Digital India initiatives, and the recent surge in technology startups. This has positioned the country at a pivotal juncture, where it can harness its deep scientific expertise and technological prowess to achieve nation-scale advancements.

To explore this exciting opportunity, IBM Research India hosted the Science for Scale summit on April 13, 2023, bringing together thought leaders from academia, industry, and government. The summit focused on identifying the key enablers and requirements for creating a virtuous cycle between the worlds of science and scale in India.

Key Takeaways from the Science for Scale Summit

1. Preparing for the Next AI Revolution: India, with its vast and diverse population, holds immense potential to benefit from the transformative power of generative AI. To fully reap the benefits of this emerging technology, India needs to invest in capacity building, including skilling its workforce, developing robust data infrastructure, and establishing large-scale computing capabilities.
2. Navigating the Quantum Computing Landscape: India is poised to become a global leader in the quantum computing industry, with projections of a $310 billion market by 2030 and a 100x increase in its quantum-skilled workforce. Achieving this growth requires a comprehensive policy framework that supports large-scale, mission-driven research and fosters a vibrant quantum ecosystem.
3. Scaling 5G and Distributed Cloud for Impact: 5G and Edge computing hold immense promise for India, where mobile phones are the primary technology access point for a significant portion of the population. To realize this potential, India needs to foster innovation across the network, hardware, and software domains, with a synergistic approach involving industry, government, and academia.
4. Securing Digital India: India's Digital Public Infrastructure has significantly improved the quality of life for its citizens. However, as the country enters the quantum computing era, it is crucial to adopt advanced cryptographic and security technologies to safeguard this digital platform and its physical infrastructure. Academia and industry must collaborate to create a sustainable model for developing a skilled workforce in areas like applied cryptography, security, and privacy.
5. Achieving Sustainability Goals: Science and computing are poised to play a pivotal role in addressing the climate crisis, which India is already facing and will continue to face in the coming decades. These technologies can enable hyperlocal earth system models, empower enterprises and governments to measure and reduce their carbon footprints and support energy transitions.

Conclusion

The Science for Scale summit highlighted the immense opportunities that lie ahead for India as it strives to become a global leader in the scientific pursuit that drives nation-scale impact. As the country embarks on this journey, it is essential to foster ongoing dialogue and action within the technology and scientific ecosystem, building upon the perspectives shared at the summit. By harnessing its scientific expertise and technological capabilities, India can pave the way for a future where it stands at the forefront of innovation, addressing global challenges and improving the lives of its citizens.