Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal used the opening of TiEcon Delhi to make a pointed call for India to position itself at the front of the global deeptech race, stressing that technology powered innovation will determine the country’s economic trajectory in the coming decades. His remarks set the tone for a day that focused squarely on deeptech research, commercialisation and national capability building, with government officials, startup founders and investors discussing how India can turn intent into execution.
Goyal linked India’s digital journey over the past decade to its long term growth ambitions and argued that the same foundation must now propel the country into the deeptech era. India, he stated, is moving from being the fourth largest economy to the third within two years, with a long term projection of becoming a USD 30 to 32 trillion economy by 2047. That scale, he emphasised, can only be reached if deeptech becomes a central pillar of national strategy.
“Over the last decade, India’s remarkable digital transformation has created unprecedented possibilities for the millions of Indians from the bottom of the pyramid to millions of our innovators. Programmes like the Jan Dhan bank accounts, Aadhaar identity, Direct Benefit Transfer, the growth of the UPI payments ecosystem, expansion of 4G networks and now 5G across the country, all these have shifted India from coverage to access, from access to usage, from usage to outcomes,” Goyal said.
He identified artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing and other emerging technologies as the battlegrounds that will decide leadership. “As we move towards becoming a global engine of deep tech innovation, through AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, emerging technologies, the entire ecosystem of talent, institutions, investment, start ups is aligning with this vision. Happy to see entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators who embody the spirit of inquiry and enterprise that drives India forward. Together, we must aim not just to participate in the global technology revolution but to lead it with confidence, creativity, and conviction.”
Deeptech as strategic capability
The discussions that followed kept the focus on technology sovereignty, commercialisation pathways and institutional support. Senior government officials across departments emphasised that deeptech is not only an economic agenda but also a strategic imperative.
A panel titled Mission 2047 brought together leaders from STPI, DPIIT, BIRAC and NSIC to examine how India can convert its innovation pipeline into globally competitive products. The conversation moved beyond startup enthusiasm toward building deep intellectual property, scaling research labs, and connecting public institutions with private risk capital.
A session on quantum technology featured Dr Abhay Karandikar, Secretary at the Department of Science and Technology, and Dr Saurabh Srivastava, Chairman Emeritus at TiE Delhi NCR. Both speakers underscored that India must accelerate lab to market pathways instead of allowing research to remain confined to academic settings.
Srivastava said that India’s emphasis on deeptech must now translate into institutional shifts. “The Honourable Minister Piyush Goyal’s remarks on the need for Indian startups to focus on deep tech inspired us to take decisive action. We shifted our focus and the 25th TiECon Delhi has now become India’s largest deep tech conference. In a world where technology and trade are increasingly being weaponised, technology sovereignty represents national sovereignty. As India moves towards Viksit Bharat 2047, investing in deep tech and research is essential. This vision now defines TiE’s mission.”
Artificial intelligence mission and inclusion
The government’s national AI play remained central throughout the discussion. Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and leader of the India AI Mission, stated that India’s strength lies in talent depth and digital infrastructure, and stressed that compute, data access and capability building are priorities.
“India is witnessing an exciting phase in its artificial intelligence journey, powered by our strong technology ecosystem and exceptional talent base. Through the India AI Mission, we are focused on building an inclusive and innovation driven framework that provides access to compute infrastructure, quality datasets and AI skills for startups, researchers and enterprises. TiEcon Delhi NCR plays an important role in fostering collaboration among industry leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers, helping translate India’s AI potential into real world impact,” Singh said.
He emphasised that the mission aims to make AI accessible and responsible, with digital growth that benefits citizens across the economic spectrum.