22 June 2024

What Should India's Critical Technology Policy Look Like?

Saurabh Todi

Introduction

In the information age, the power of nations is closely tied to their technological advancements. However, certain technologies have the potential to significantly enhance or undermine national security, economic growth, constitutional values and the well-being of citizens 1 . These groundbreaking and disruptive technologies are often considered critical and emerging (CETs). They are considered crucial due to their importance for national security, economic prosperity, and social cohesion. These can include hardware, software, equipment, systems, and infrastructure.

The concept of CET is often used in the context of defence, economic development, and national interest. The classification of what is critical and what is not depends on the country's security environment, so different countries may see different technologies as critical 2 . For example, Australia defines critical technologies as “emerging technologies with the capacity to significantly enhance or pose risk to our national interests, understood broadly as comprising economic prosperity, social cohesion and/or national security.”; Japan defines critical technology as “important technologies in which Japan should maintain superiority and remove vulnerabilities in order to ensure Japan’s security and realize the sound development of the Japanese economy.”; and the U.S. defines critical and emerging technologies as “advanced technologies that are potentially significant to US national security.”

Countries worldwide are developing strategies and bolstering their capabilities to take advantage of the opportunities and mitigate the strategic risks associated with CETs. India needs such a strategy as well.

No comments: