Innovate or be eaten: On India and an innovative ecosystem

The article highlights India's significant potential to become a global innovation hub, citing the capabilities of Indian professionals and the success of initiatives like 'Bharat Innovates 2026'. It discusses the challenges posed by global tech restrictions (e.g., ban on advanced AI models for non-Americans) and the high costs of competing in frontier AI and semiconductor technology. The author emphasizes that for India to foster a truly innovative ecosystem, it must attract both capital (through predictable tax policies and fair venture capital assessment) and talent (by investing in public goods like clean air, urban green spaces, and public transport), particularly in deep tech areas such as space exploration, defence, and material sciences.