SKILLING AND RESKILLING FOR THE DEEP TECH ECOSYSTEM

India has a strong edge in IT. Developing new courses in areas that are adjacent to IT such as AI, cybersecurity, blockchain, cloud, and so on would help to leverage our existing strengths

- DR. THILLAI RAJAN A.

DR. THILLAI RAJAN AS

Professor, Centre for Research on Start-ups and Risk Financing, Department of Management Studies, IIT Madras and Co-Founder, YNOS Venture Engine Start-up

What is the Deep Tech Ecosystem?

India’s reliance on Science and Technology (S&T) for national development and economic growth is nothing new. India’s prowess on various areas of S&T such as atomic energy, space, missile technology, biotechnology have been globally recognized.

While the recent thrust on Deep Tech builds on some of the existing pillars of science, what makes Deep Tech different are twofold: the process and end-use. Deep Tech, if not explicitly, at least implicitly indicates the involvement of startups in the innovation and commercialization process. Startups help in hurrying up the research, development and commercialization of the technology of the new product along with managing the risky radical innovations. In terms of end use, Deep Tech indicates the use of advanced science and technology in addressing social and economic problems.

Deep Tech tries to solve big problems by using tangible scientific discoveries or engineering innovation. Many startups in energy, materials, chemicals, computer sciences, energy and clean technology are considered as Deep Tech startups.