Daily Current Affairs : 1-August-2023

In a significant move to foster innovation and technology-driven growth, the Draft National Deep Tech Startup Policy (NDTSP) has been released for public consultation. This policy aims to harness the transformative potential of advanced scientific and technological breakthroughs across diverse sectors, strengthening India’s capabilities and enhancing global competitiveness. Led by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and in collaboration with key stakeholders, the policy identifies nine thematic priority areas to create a conducive ecosystem for deep tech startups.

  1. Background and Aim:

The Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) recognized the need to address the requirements of the Indian deep tech startup ecosystem. In its 21st meeting, it recommended the establishment of a National Consortium and a Working Group to propose a comprehensive policy framework. The primary goal of the NDTSP is to lay the groundwork for new industry creation and unlock the transformative potential of technological advancements.

  1. The Nine Thematic Priority Areas:

The Draft NDTSP focuses on nine key thematic priority areas, each critical for initializing a thriving deep tech startup ecosystem:

a. Nurturing Research, Development & Innovation: Emphasizing the importance of investing in research and innovation to drive groundbreaking technological advancements.

b. Strengthening the Intellectual Property Regime: Facilitating startups’ protection and commercialization of their intellectual property, encouraging further innovation.

c. Facilitating Access to Funding: Ensuring startups have access to capital and financial support to accelerate their growth and development.

d. Enabling Shared Infrastructure and Resource Sharing: Promoting collaboration among startups and access to shared infrastructure to reduce costs and enhance efficiency.

e. Creating Conducive Regulations, Standards, and Certifications: Establishing a regulatory framework that encourages innovation while maintaining industry standards and certifications.

f. Attracting Human Resources & Initiating Capacity Building: Fostering a skilled workforce by attracting top talent and investing in capacity building initiatives.

g. Promoting Procurement & Adoption: Encouraging government agencies and industries to procure and adopt deep tech solutions.

h. Ensuring Policy & Program Interlinkages: Ensuring coherence and synergy among various government policies and programs to support deep tech startups.

i. Sustaining Deep Tech Startups: Implementing measures to sustain the growth and success of deep tech startups in the long term.

  1. Understanding Deep Technology:

Deep Technology is built on advanced scientific and technological breakthroughs, making it capable of addressing India’s most pressing societal challenges. It holds immense potential to disrupt traditional industries and create solutions for complex issues. India’s deep tech vision is founded on four pillars: securing the nation’s economic future, promoting a knowledge-driven economy, enhancing national capability and sovereignty through Atma Nirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), and encouraging ethical innovation.

Important Points:

  • Draft National Deep Tech Startup Policy (NDTSP) released for Public Consultation.
  • Aim: Harness transformative potential of advanced technology, strengthen India’s capabilities, and enhance global competitiveness.
  • Nine key thematic priority areas of the policy:
    • Nurturing Research, Development & Innovation
    • Strengthening the Intellectual Property Regime
    • Facilitating Access to Funding
    • Enabling Shared Infrastructure and Resource Sharing
    • Creating Conducive Regulations, Standards, and Certifications
    • Attracting Human Resources & Initiating Capacity Building
    • Promoting Procurement & Adoption
    • Ensuring Policy & Program Interlinkages
    • Sustaining Deep Tech Startups
  • Deep Technology refers to innovations based on advanced scientific and technological breakthroughs.
  • India’s deep tech vision includes four pillars:
    • Securing India’s economic future
    • Progressing towards a knowledge-driven economy
    • Bolstering national capability and sovereignty through Atma Nirbhar Bharat
    • Encouraging ethical innovation
  • The policy’s development led by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India in collaboration with key stakeholders.
  • Public consultation period to gather insights and shape the policy.
  • Policy aims to create a conducive ecosystem for deep tech startups in India.
  • Focus on nurturing research, innovation, and intellectual property protection.
  • Facilitating access to funding and shared infrastructure to support startups.
  • Promoting a skilled workforce through talent attraction and capacity building.
  • Encouraging government and industry procurement and adoption of deep tech solutions.
  • Emphasizing coherence and synergy among various government policies and programs.
  • The policy’s potential to drive India’s journey towards a technology-powered future.
Why In News

The eagerly anticipated Draft National Deep Tech Startup Policy (NDTSP) has finally been unveiled for Public Consultation, heralding a new era of innovation and technological advancement. Entrepreneurs, investors, and stakeholders now have the opportunity to actively shape the policy’s framework, fostering a dynamic ecosystem that empowers and accelerates the growth of deep tech startups across the nation.

MCQs about Empowering India’s Deep Tech Startup Ecosystem

  1. What is the primary aim of the Draft National Deep Tech Startup Policy (NDTSP)?
    A. To promote traditional industries and businesses in India.
    B. To encourage global competitiveness among startups.
    C. To harness the transformative potential of advanced technology and strengthen India’s capabilities.
    D. To establish a separate ecosystem for non-tech startups.
    Correct Answer: C. To harness the transformative potential of advanced technology and strengthen India’s capabilities.
    Explanation: The primary aim of the NDTSP is to harness the transformative potential of advanced technology across diverse sectors and strengthen India’s capabilities, ultimately enhancing its global competitiveness.
  2. What are the four pillars of India’s deep tech vision?
    A. Economic growth, technological advancement, global competitiveness, and environmental sustainability.
    B. Atma Nirbhar Bharat, ethical innovation, knowledge-driven economy, and human resources.
    C. Economic future, knowledge-driven economy, national capability, and Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
    D. Intellectual property protection, regulatory framework, capacity building, and resource sharing.
    Correct Answer: C. Economic future, knowledge-driven economy, national capability, and Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
    Explanation: The four pillars of India’s deep tech vision as securing the nation’s economic future, progressing towards a knowledge-driven economy, bolstering national capability and sovereignty through Atma Nirbhar Bharat, and encouraging ethical innovation.
  3. Which of the following is NOT one of the nine key thematic priority areas identified by the NDTSP?
    A. Nurturing Research, Development & Innovation.
    B. Strengthening the Intellectual Property Regime.
    C. Encouraging Foreign Investment in Deep Tech Startups.
    D. Sustaining Deep Tech Startups.
    Correct Answer: C. Encouraging Foreign Investment in Deep Tech Startups.
    Explanation: The nine key thematic priority areas of the NDTSP include nurturing research, development & innovation, strengthening the intellectual property regime, enabling access to funding, shared infrastructure, creating conducive regulations, standards, and certifications, attracting human resources, promoting procurement & adoption, ensuring policy & program interlinkages, and sustaining deep tech startups. Encouraging foreign investment is not listed among them.

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