National Technology Day: What Did CP Gurnani And Other Tech Leaders Say?

Cisco’s India manufacturing push dominated the tech headlines on Wednesday. The San Jose, CA-based company said it will begin manufacturing in the country to drive more than USD 1 billion in combined domestic production and exports.

During the manufacturing announcement, Chuck Robbins, chair and CEO of Cisco, highlighted the importance of India and supporting its growing technology ecosystem. "Fueled by a rapidly developing digital economy, India is a focal point of innovation and business for Cisco and we remain deeply committed to our partnerships here,” he said.

The announcement from Cisco comes one day before India’s National Technology Day, which is celebrated to acknowledge the achievements of the country's scientists, engineers and technological advancements that have contributed heavily to nation-building.

On this special occasion, several eminent leaders from the world of technology weighed in:

“As we celebrate National Technology Day, we must recognise the tremendous impact that technology has on our lives. The increased adoption of next-gen technologies has the power to not only drive economic recovery, enhance productivity, and lead to growth across sectors, but also improve the larger standard of living for people.

Digital technologies such as Blockchain can improve the supply chain by ensuring real-time visibility, traceability, data accuracy, and data security, thereby resulting in improved outcomes. Further, technologies such as Metaverse, Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR), can provide immersive experiences for people across the world and add value to the physical modes of interactions. Undoubtedly, leveraging technology to achieve sustainable economic growth is the path ahead for us!”

— CP Gurnani, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tech Mahindra

“India is establishing itself as the next deep tech hotspot with its pool of 5 million digitally skilled workforce, national science and technology missions, and robust startup ecosystem that values emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, 5G/Edge, and Quantum Computing, among others. Quantum technology is an important part of India’s technology ambition and its success relies on strong collaboration within the quantum community that includes industry, government, academia, and startups. 

As quantum computing matures in the coming years, a new quantum-classical computing paradigm that combines quantum, AI and hybrid cloud will provide a disruptive opportunity for the ecosystem to develop deep tech innovations that address nation-scale challenges and opportunities. For Developers in India, there couldn’t be a better time to build skill sets in these disruptive technologies that will make them highly coveted by prospective employers. For India to lead in quantum-centric computing, it must build its own intellectual capacity and IP in quantum and its applications to become an innovation and talent hub.” 

— Dr. Amith Singhee, Director, IBM Research India & CTO IBM India and South Asia 

"On account of National Technology Day, we must acknowledge the transformative power of technology. At Quick Heal, we are committed to harnessing this power to create a safer digital world through innovative solutions built on the most advanced technology stack with AI at their core.

Our goal is to empower individuals, organisations and nations to thrive in an interconnected world by providing them with the solutions they need to stay cybersafe."

— Dr. Kailash Katkar, Managing Director and CEO of Quick Heal Technologies

“On this National Technology Day, we acknowledge and applaud the achievements of the brave scientists and researchers who made India’s journey to becoming a nuclear power successful in 1998. The Pokhran test set forward a precedent of technological advancement in the country and we’ve been growing exponentially ever since. This has also pushed our country towards more sustainable forms of energy production that include nuclear power, solar, and wind energy. 

The drone industry, which is a less recognised component of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, is helping carry the energy transition forward. Drones help coal-dependent energy systems become more sustainable and provide data to design efficient solar plants, watersheds, etc. Today, we strive to continue innovating the drone industry to unlock even more possibilities for sustainable development and positive impact in India and beyond."

— Vipul Singh, Co-founder and CEO, Aereo (formerly Aarav Unmanned Systems)

“On National Technology Day, we celebrate the spirit of innovation and scientific progress that has been driving India's technology ecosystem for the past 25 years. We've seen amazing progress over that time and can take immense pride in the contributions that our scientists and engineers have made to not just India but to humanity. 

Now we have to turn our attention to the biggest challenge facing mankind - climate change. Science and technology will play a key role and I am convinced that India can also make a significant contribution and help build a brighter, more sustainable world for future generations.” 

 — Ajeya Motaganahalli, Vice President, Engineering, FlashBlade and MD, India R&D, Pure Storage

"Coupled with the rise of innovative startups, a push towards digitalization, and the increasing demand for cutting-edge technologies in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, 5G/6G, Automotive Electrification, Smart meters, and Digital factories to name a few has created a solid foundation for the growth and expansion of the semiconductor industry in India. 

With a skilled workforce, favourable policies, and increasing investments in research and development (R&D), India is well-positioned to become a hub for semiconductor Design, Engineering and manufacturing. We believe that, in a rapidly growing digital economy, India has a unique opportunity to leverage its vast pool of engineering talent and become a global hub for semiconductor innovation.”

— Srinivas Prasad, Senior Director & Site Head at Analog Devices