IET hosts 6th future tech congress in Bengaluru, addressing India’s component conundrum

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) hosted the 6th edition of Future Tech Congress, focusing on the theme “India’s Component Conundrum,” at Sheraton, Whitefield, Bengaluru. The one-day event brought together industry experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities in building a robust Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) ecosystem in India. The conference concluded with actionable recommendations for stakeholders aimed at driving growth and innovation in India’s ESDM sector.

Padma Bhushan recipient Dr Arogyaswamy Paulraj, an Indian-American electrical engineer and academic, delivered the Super Keynote, emphasising the need for India to ascend the value chain in high-tech sectors. “India stands at a critical juncture where fostering innovation, persistence, and entrepreneurship is essential to building a robust domestic capability in electronic components, particularly semiconductors,” said Dr Paulraj. He further highlighted that India must address challenges such as intellectual property, high skill requirements, and intense R&D demands to excel in advanced technology segments.

The event addressed the urgent need for India to reduce its dependency on imported components, a key factor in realising the nation’s $30 trillion economy goal by 2047. Discussions centred on three key technologies—Generative AI, Industrial Metaverse, and Quantum Technologies—and their impact on the Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Mobility sectors.

Prominent speakers, including Abhijeet Sinha, Program Director at Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), Sandeep Nelamangala, President of Bosch Mobility India, and Pankaj Vyas, CEO and MD of Siemens Technology and Services, shared insights on industry challenges and opportunities.

“We envisioned the sixth edition of the IET Future Tech Congress to transcend the traditional conference format, becoming an open platform for in-depth technological discourse and debate, and we managed to achieve that,” said Shekhar Sanyal, Country Head and Director, IET India. He highlighted the importance of focusing on the need for a robust ESDM ecosystem in India, which is pivotal for the nation’s digital transformation journey.

Dr Rishi Bhatnagar, Chair of the IET India Future Tech Panel, echoed the sentiment, emphasising the need for indigenization of electronic component manufacturing. “The Future Tech Congress 2024 has brought to the forefront the urgent need to address India’s ‘Component Conundrum’ by focusing on strategies that boost the indigenisation of electronic component manufacturing,” he said.

Speakers also discussed the evolving mobility landscape in India. Sandeep Nelamangala from Bosch Mobility noted the importance of staying attuned to transformative trends in the mobility industry. “It’s crucial to stay attuned to the transformative trends shaping the future,” he remarked, highlighting that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach across the market.

Pankaj Vyas from Siemens Technology spoke about the Industrial Metaverse, describing it as a convergence of multiple technologies that offer a photo-realistic, immersive, and collaborative solution for manufacturers. “It’s more than just a digital twin; it’s a comprehensive and dynamic platform that simulates real-world experiences,” he said.

The Future Tech Congress 2024 provided a platform for discussing the critical role of technology and electronics in India’s economic growth, with a focus on reducing dependency on imported components and fostering innovation in high-tech sectors.