India is at a tipping point. Our ambition to become a developed nation by 2047 calls for transformative, all-encompassing change. Incremental progress will no longer suffice in a world evolving at breakneck speed. Achieving this goal demands exponential transformation across every sector of our society and economy.

In any other era, this ambition might have been dismissed as unattainable. But today, we find ourselves at the threshold of a technological revolution powered by frontier technologies — an era where innovation is breaking barriers and redefining the limits of what is possible.

Frontier technologies exist at the dynamic intersection of science and technology, driving transformative impacts across sectors in ways previously unimaginable. Consider the example of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Awarded for advancements powered by artificial intelligence (AI), it underscores how AI breakthroughs are reshaping the landscape of innovation. The Nobel was given to the founders of AlphaFold, an AI tool that solved the structure of over 200 million proteins in a single year — a feat that would have taken humanity billions of years using traditional methods.

This groundbreaking achievement is fast-tracking drug discovery for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s, moving us closer to affordable, personalised medicine.

Imagine the impact of deploying such technologies across India’s vast healthcare ecosystem — transforming diagnostics, improving outcomes, and making quality care accessible to every citizen, even in the most remote areas.

Challenges in agriculture

In agriculture, India faces twin pressures of population growth and climate change, which demand urgent innovation. Enter technics like boosted breeding, a revolutionary bioengineering technique that enables plants to inherit 100 per cent of their parents’ genetic material — without any DNA editing. This innovation boosts crop yields and creates climate-resilient varieties, addressing food security challenges head-on.

Scaling such technologies could position India as the food basket to the world, achieving self-sufficiency while leading the charge in sustainable agriculture. India’s renewable energy ambitions are equally bold. Frontier technologies are redefining the energy landscape, with the integration of solar, wind, and green hydrogen leading the charge. Green hydrogen, for example, is already decarbonising industries such as steel and shipping while providing a robust energy storage solution.

As India accelerates production, it stands on the cusp of becoming a global hub for renewable energy innovation, driving both economic growth and environmental resilience.

These technologies promise solutions to humanity’s most pressing challenges — climate change, food shortages, and equitable healthcare delivery.

However, the rise of these technologies brings with it profound ethical and regulatory challenges. From potential misuse to the disruption of existing systems, the risks are real and must not be ignored.

To harness the full potential of frontier technologies, India must act decisively and early. By spotting these trends early, understanding their implications, and proactively shaping their development, we can ensure these technologies work for us — not against us. Early adoption of frontier technologies allows us to:

Shape standards and markets: Leading in technology means setting global standards, which ensures Indian interests are prioritised.

Maximise economic impact: Frontier tech could contribute trillions to global GDP. If we act now, we can capture a significant share of this value.

Address risks proactively: Technologies like AI and quantum computing carry risks — from job displacement to national security threats. Acting early allows us to build robust frameworks that mitigate these risks. We must lead with a framework that is safe, inclusive, and responsible — one that balances opportunity with caution. And that’s the main agenda of the NITI’s Frontier Tech hub.

Our goal is to partner with experts across industry, academia and government to accelerate India’s readiness for innovation and adoption of frontier technologies.

The road to 2047 begins today.By 2035, the midpoint in our journey, we must have a clear vision for how frontier technologies will shape critical sectors. This requires:

Investing in R&D: India’s current R&D spend is just 0.7 per cent of GDP — far below global benchmarks.

Building partnerships: Collaborating with industry, academia, and global leaders to foster a thriving innovation ecosystem.

Creating ethical frameworks: Establishing policies that ensure technologies are used responsibly and inclusively.

The writer is Distinguished Fellow, NITI Aayog