Technology may shine, but it is science that will fuel India’s rise

India needs to invest in core science by positioning laboratories as magnets for global talent.

By Shambhavi Naik 

Recent budget cuts to basic science in the United States have created a gap that other countries are now racing to fill. For a nation long seen as a pillar of global innovation, this retreat from fundamental research is significant, but not abrupt. Over the past decade, the US and other advanced economies have steadily shifted their focus from science to technology, prioritising strategic applications over long-term inquiry.

For India, this moment offers both a cautionary tale and an opportunity. If India is to emerge as a true global innovation hub, fundamental research must grow in tandem with technological ambitions. That means not just celebrating start-ups and semiconductors, but deliberately investing in core science, through increased funding, supportive governance, and by positioning Indian laboratories as magnets for global talent.

A Global Shift from Science to Technology

Two major developments transformed the global landscape in recent decades. First, a rules-based international order, largely championed by Western democracies, had steered the world away from military conflict and toward cooperation based on norms and institutions. In this new paradigm, economic competition, driven largely by technological advancement, became the primary arena of global rivalry.

Second, the rapid spread of emerging technologies made both science and innovation more distributed. Once confined to elite institutions in the West, frontier research is now more fiercely contested. Recognising this, many advanced countries are reorienting their strategies around “critical technologies,” explicitly naming areas such as quantum computing or AI as vital to national power.

This global recalibration sends a clear signal. Nations that dominate in technology will lead in influence. For India, the path forward is not just to scale up what works, but to seed what’s next by placing bold bets on basic science, and building the ecosystems that let curiosity thrive.

Benefits of Supporting Fundamental Research

Supporting fundamental science offers India several long-term advantages.

First, much of modern technological progress rests on the foundations laid by basic research. Landmark innovations such as CRISPR gene editing and mRNA vaccines emerged not from targeted product development, but from scientists seeking to understand how biological systems work. These discoveries began as open-ended inquiries and not solutions in search of a problem. There is enduring value in exploring nature through curiosity-driven research, which purposeful, outcome-based work cannot fully replace. While technology-focused research builds on what is known, basic science discovers what is not known. If India has to be a leader, for example, in biotechnology, there has to be a focus on research on biodiversity - both terrestrial and marine. This, in addition to providing insights into evolutionary and ecological mechanisms of nature, will help bioprospecting the new knowledge for societal applications that include health, environment and economy. Encouragingly, the rise of affordable and accessible technologies now makes such research more feasible in India, and opens new possibilities for addressing locally relevant scientific questions.

Second, fundamental research is a powerful vehicle for cultivating scientific thinking. Institutions focused on basic science play a critical role in training young minds in the principles of inquiry, skepticism, and evidence-based reasoning. They foster a culture of intellectual rigor, producing not just researchers, but leaders and thinkers who can shape India’s future in science, policy, and innovation.

Third, the influence of research institutions often extends far beyond their campuses. The spread of scientific ideas into society—through outreach, education, and public engagement—can help build a more rational and informed public. In a country where superstition and misinformation still hold sway, especially in the age of rapidly evolving technologies, this scientific temper is vital. Promoting science through community engagement is not a side function of research institutions—it is a core responsibility.

Balancing Science and Technology

Ultimately, India cannot hope to win the technological race by neglecting science. In fact, it is only through a strong foundation in fundamental research that India can uncover truly original paths to innovation.

A serious focus on science begins with robust government funding. While the private sector has strong incentives to invest in applied research—where products and services can be monetised—basic research offers few immediate financial returns. This makes it a natural and necessary responsibility for the government. Public investment in fundamental science is essential if India is to build a truly resilient and future-ready innovation ecosystem.

Equally important is improving the ease of doing research. Current regulations around procurement and hiring are overly rigid, often forcing researchers to spend more time navigating bureaucracy than conducting actual science. Moreover, India remains a supplier-led market, heavily dependent on imported equipment and consumables. Streamlining customs processes and creating incentives for both domestic and foreign manufacturers to produce research tools within India could drastically reduce delays and lower costs, enabling faster and more self-reliant research.

Building an Innovation Hub Through Science

Attracting top global and domestic talent is another critical pillar. This means building world-class research campuses, simplifying visa and travel regulations, and ensuring supportive work environments. When the best minds from around the world choose to work in Indian institutions, it will signal the maturation of India’s scientific landscape on the global stage.

These shifts will take time—but they must happen in parallel with, not as a consequence of, technological development. India should not simply follow the investment patterns of advanced economies that are now pivoting toward applied tech. Our path must be rooted in building the scientific institutions and ecosystems that will define our long-term national strength.

Nation-building depends on science. And only through sustained, ambitious investment in fundamental research can India aspire to become a true global hub of innovation and discovery.

(Shambhavi Naik, Chair of Advanced Biology Programme at Takshashila Institution.)

Views are personal, and do not represent the stance of this publication.