Technology – India Urged to Build Leverage Through Innovation Strategy
Technology – India must rethink its approach to high-impact technologies if it aims to expand its influence on the global stage, according to a recent policy commentary that examines how leading nations translate innovation into diplomatic strength.
The article argues that New Delhi should selectively adopt elements of the American development model to accelerate progress in areas such as rare earth processing, advanced biologics, artificial intelligence, and affordable satellite launch services. By establishing dominance in carefully chosen sectors, India could create forms of strategic dependence that strengthen its negotiating position in international affairs.
Lessons from the American Playbook
The analysis points to the United States as a case study in how technological leadership can underpin geopolitical power. Washington’s command over advanced defence systems, information technology, and the global financial architecture has often allowed it to shape global outcomes to its advantage. During the presidency of Donald Trump, for example, tariffs and trade measures were deployed alongside financial and technological tools to press other nations into alignment with American priorities.
The broader lesson, the commentary suggests, is that influence is rarely sustained by goodwill alone. Nations that hold unique advantages in essential sectors are better positioned to secure favorable diplomatic outcomes. Over decades, the United States has invested heavily in innovation, scaled industries to global reach, and embedded its technologies deeply into international systems, making alternatives difficult or expensive to pursue.
Identifying Sectors for Strategic Advantage
Rather than attempting to mirror American tactics in their entirety, the article recommends that India adapt the underlying principle: cultivate areas where it can achieve disproportionate influence. Rare earth processing is highlighted as a critical opportunity, given the global demand for these materials in electronics and clean energy technologies.
The pharmaceutical sector is another area of promise. India’s established strength in generic drug manufacturing could be paired with expanded research in advanced biologics, positioning the country as both a volume supplier and an innovation hub. In technology, open-source artificial intelligence frameworks designed for emerging markets could help India capture global market share while reinforcing digital partnerships.
Affordable satellite and launch services also present a strategic opening. By building on its cost-effective space capabilities, India could become an indispensable partner for countries seeking access to space-based infrastructure. Similarly, expanding digital public infrastructure models such as interoperable payment platforms on a global scale could deepen economic ties with developing economies.
Expanding High-Value Exports
The commentary stresses that India’s services sector remains a significant competitive advantage. Information technology, software development, fintech, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence services already contribute meaningfully to exports. However, maintaining this edge will require sustained public and private investment, particularly in emerging fields.
Capturing leadership in areas such as AI agents, quantum-resistant cybersecurity solutions, and green hydrogen technologies could strengthen India’s global standing. At the same time, manufacturing growth in electronics, renewable energy equipment, and defence production must continue to ensure balanced industrial development.
Reforming Education and Research
A central theme of the article is the need for structural changes in education and research. It calls for a shift away from rote learning toward deeper, original inquiry. Universities and research institutions, it argues, should encourage interdisciplinary thinking and reward ambitious projects capable of generating transformative impact rather than incremental gains.
Establishing clear national benchmarks for what constitutes meaningful innovation could help direct resources toward breakthroughs with global significance. According to the analysis, technologies that create near-irreplaceable value or embed themselves widely across markets offer the strongest foundation for diplomatic leverage.
Balancing Ambition with Responsibility
While advocating for assertive innovation policies, the article emphasizes that India’s strategy must align with its democratic principles and long-term development goals. Building influence through technology, it suggests, does not require abandoning ethical standards but rather pursuing coordinated national objectives with clarity and consistency.
As global competition intensifies across technology, trade, and finance, the ability to command essential capabilities may determine which nations shape the rules of the international system. For India, the path forward may lie not in imitation, but in adapting proven principles to its own strengths and priorities.