India is steadily moving from being a technology follower to becoming a confident global player in strategic and emerging technologies, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said, underlining the growing importance of critical minerals and advanced materials to the country’s energy security, industrial competitiveness and national security. Addressing the 3rd Global Summit on Advanced Materials, Critical Minerals & Metals in New Delhi, the Minister called for stronger domestic capabilities, greater private investment, global partnerships and deeper collaboration between industry and research institutions.
India is entering a new phase of technological ambition, with the country increasingly confident about shaping rather than simply following global trends, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and several other key portfolios, Dr. Jitendra Singh, said on Friday.
Delivering the keynote address at the Special Plenary of the 3rd Global Summit on Advanced Materials, Critical Minerals & Metals, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi, Singh said India was no longer dependent on the experiences of other countries before charting its own course.
The summit, themed “Building Resilient Value Chains for a Sustainable and Competitive Future”, brought together representatives from government, industry, research institutions and international organisations.
Singh said the global economic order was undergoing a major technological transformation. Clean energy, electric vehicles, semiconductors, telecommunications, aerospace, defence and nuclear power are increasingly determining the direction of industrial growth. In this rapidly changing environment, he said, India must develop the capacity to participate as a creator and leader of technology.
At the centre of this transformation are critical minerals and advanced materials. Their significance, he pointed out, goes far beyond mining. They are becoming essential for energy security, industrial competitiveness and national security.
India therefore needs to develop capabilities across the complete critical-mineral value chain—from exploration and extraction to refining, processing, engineering and manufacturing. Domestic resources alone will not be sufficient, he said. India will have to combine its own mineral strengths with international resources while simultaneously developing indigenous technologies that can compete globally.
The Minister stressed that securing critical minerals should be treated as a national priority as India prepares for an economy increasingly driven by advanced technologies and cleaner energy.
The transition towards electric mobility, renewable energy and high-end manufacturing is expected to increase demand for minerals and materials that are essential for batteries, electronics, defence systems, telecommunications and other strategic applications.
Singh called for a “whole-of-government and whole-of-nation” approach, with industry playing a central role. India, he said, must pursue international partnerships and global strategies without compromising the development of domestic technological capabilities.
A major shift is also taking place in traditionally restricted strategic sectors. Singh highlighted the government's decision to open the nuclear sector to greater private-sector participation, describing it as an important change in India's approach to strategic technology and investment.
He invited international investors and companies, including those from Canada and other countries, to explore opportunities emerging from India's changing nuclear framework. According to him, the new approach creates greater scope for foreign collaboration while simultaneously expanding opportunities for Indian industry.
The Minister also highlighted the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, saying that the initiative announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now entered the implementation phase. Such mechanisms, he said, can encourage private investment in high-risk strategic technologies where industry has traditionally been cautious.
Singh also emphasised that India’s technological ambitions cannot be achieved without bringing industry into the research process at an early stage.
Potential industry partners, he said, should be associated with research and innovation projects from the beginning. Such engagement can ensure that scientific work remains connected to market requirements and has a greater chance of being converted into commercially viable products and technologies.
He called for stronger coordination among government, industry, researchers, startups, investors and the wider non-government sector. Such an ecosystem, he said, would provide startups and entrepreneurs with the support needed to survive, scale and contribute to strategic sectors.
Another area requiring greater attention is funding for research. Singh argued that India must substantially increase investment in research and innovation while developing a stronger culture of philanthropy for knowledge creation.
He urged major business houses and industry leaders to view funding for research as an important form of philanthropy, noting that investment in knowledge can generate benefits extending well beyond individual companies and contribute to the larger welfare of society and humanity.
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