National Technology Day is celebrated on May 11th in India every year. This day recognises the country’s incredible achievements in science and technology.
It’s no secret that India is one of the fastest-changing countries in the world, and this progress is largely due to groundbreaking accomplishments in engineering and technology. This day allows us to applaud India’s achievements and the tireless efforts of its thinkers, researchers, and engineers.
National Tech Day holds historical significance in India. It is a remarkable way of acknowledging the tremendous contribution of brilliant minds in making the country more efficient for a brighter and better future.
Why is National Technology Day Celebrated?
In 1999, the former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, declared May 11th the National Technology Day. The day is observed to commemorate India’s successful nuclear test conducted in 1998, which was led by India’s renowned scientist and missile man, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
Each year, the country celebrates the day by following a different theme. The 2024 theme ‘From Schools to Startups: Igniting Young Minds to Innovate’ is a remarkable initiative aimed at inspiring and motivating the young generation to take an interest in technology.
The idea behind this theme is to encourage the youth to be innovative and creative, which can help them become successful entrepreneurs in the future.
Theme of the 2024 National Technology Day
The theme for National Technology Day 2024 is “From Schools to Startups: Igniting Young Minds to Innovate.
The theme emphasises nurturing schoolchildren to start their own start-ups and contribute to making India the hub of startups in the world.
Quotes on National Technology Day from Eminent Industrialists
Aalok Kumar, Corporate Officer & Sr. VP – Head of the Global Smart City Business, NEC Corporation and President & CEO, NEC Corporation India
“Over the past decade, India has matured into global leadership in technological innovation. This has altered the way in which we experience how the day-to-day services are provided and above all, how citizens utilize civic services. This transformation is fundamentally underpinned by the recognition of technology’s potential to change lives and communities for the better. Today, India is on a steady path to realize its vision for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, and the role of technology comes into sharp focus with greater responsibility than ever before. At this juncture, the tech innovation ethos in India is evolving to “purposeful innovation” aimed at societal good, demanding creative and responsible application of AI, ML, and big data analytics to solve day to day problems of the common man.
At NEC India, our purpose is to build technology that serves the people, and as intelligent communities emerge, driven by data analytics and AI, we are proud to be playing our part in shaping a future where technology redefines citizen-centricity in civic services empowering lives. India’s unique position as a rapidly urbanizing nation undergoing large-scale digital transformation presents an unparalleled opportunity as a testing ground for innovative solutions that can be adapted to various markets worldwide.”
Anku Jain, Managing Director, MediaTek India
“India’s IT industry has emerged as a thriving force, driving the country’s GDP, employment opportunities, and overall growth of the economy. We foresee a smarter future in which digital technologies have the ability to transform how people do business in an increasingly interconnected world. Organizations must focus on upskilling and reskilling the workforce to enable them to develop competencies and tap into significant development opportunities across different sectors. MediaTek is a front-runner in new-age technology such as Generative AI, IoT, ML, 5G FWA, cloud computing, satellite connectivity, automotive, connectivity, and advanced 5G solutions that are transforming our world into a more intelligent and connected world. At MediaTek, we believe in investing in local talent and scaling skills to create innovation for India and global markets through dedicated technical training sessions, e-learning platforms, and ongoing opportunities for skill development.”
Tarun Chhabra, Country Manager, Nokia India
“National Technology Day is a celebration of innovation and contribution of the youth for driving the same. India has already positioned itself as one of the key economies in the world driven by technological innovation over the last few year. We believe that the next decade will be marked by unparalleled technological progress in AI, cloud, and connectivity presenting new opportunities for India to strengthen its foothold in the global technology landscape. At Nokia, we are actively building a global ecosystem by leveraging our innovation platforms, communities, and physical labs, where we unite partners and technologies to shape the digital services and applications of tomorrow. India plays a significant role in this journey.”
Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, Esri India
“India’s tech sector is expected to clock 3-5% growth in FY25. A crucial facilitator of this growth will be the higher adoption of cutting-edge technologies like GIS, GeoAI, and IoT by the government, academia, and the private sector to address mission-critical challenges and build applications that can be collaboratively used by a large number of people in the organizations. Young minds, equipped with geospatial thinking and the relevant skillset will be the key driving force behind this development. As a leader in the GIS industry, Esri India is committed to building a strong geospatial workforce for the country. Along with working with 800+ universities and colleges, we are engaged in initiatives like Master’s Scholarships in GIS, Master Mentors Geo-enabling Indian Scholars (MMGEIS) Program in collaboration with the Centre for Knowledge Sovereignty, and Young Scholar Program to empower young minds to tackle India’s challenges using geospatial technology. Investment in building the capabilities of the youth of our country so that they can make a strong positive impact is a prerequisite for becoming a developed nation by 2047.”
A. Gururaj, Managing Director, Optiemus Electronics
“The National Technology Day is the occasion for our country to reflect on our achievements and also look at the challenges ahead. India is progressing forward towards creating local product development strengths in multiple segments through startups and other entities in the electronics segment. The Optiemus group has already announced its plans towards working on developing screen protectors capability in India through global partnership and also working on developing state of the drone design and manufacturing in the country. We will continue to work towards developing the electronics eco system in India in line with the Government’s vision towards creating an Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
Dr. Bishnu Pal Dean, Ecole Centrale School of Engineering, Mahindra University
“Educators hold the key to unlocking the potential of youth and nurturing their innate creativity to think critically, adapt swiftly, and innovate fearlessly by providing access to research, design thinking, and problem-solving platforms. By merging the power of technology with the vibrancy of the start-up ecosystem and bridging the gap between education and entrepreneurship, we can nurture young minds to build a career and also create opportunities for others. The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Cell (EIC) at Mahindra University not only promotes an entrepreneurial ecosystem but also fosters a start-up culture on campus. As transformative technologies shape future societies it is vital to help nurture fresh ideas and streamline the boundless energy that young minds possess in abundance.”
Sachin Panicker, Chief AI Officer, Fulcrum Digital
“National Technology Day celebrates not just technological advancements, but also the widespread accessibility of innovation. In this era, enterprise AI serves as a pivotal force, driving the digital transformation of businesses across all scales, enabling them to flourish amidst heightened competition. This underscores the significance of AI in the ongoing evolution of technology, revolutionizing how businesses operate and innovate in the modern landscape.
The widespread adoption of enterprise AI is leveling the playing field, enabling even MSMEs to stand toe to toe with global competitors. Through intelligent automation, predictive analytics, and personalized insights, AI equips these companies with the tools to optimize operations, enhance productivity, and deliver unparalleled value to their customers. Beyond its capacity to optimize business operations, AI today also emerges as the great equalizer, bridging gaps between individuals and communities like never before. It transcends boundaries, providing ease of access to information, education, and opportunity, thus paving the way for inclusive growth and empowerment.
As we commemorate National Technology Day, let us recognize the transformative power of AI and share enthusiasm for the continuous strides being made in space, contributing to India’s tech journey. Let’s also champion inclusivity, shaping a future where everyone benefits from this progress.”
Kishan Sundar, Sr. Vice President, Chief Technology Officer – Key Accounts, Maveric Systems
“Technology has completely reshaped sectors and has become the core of operations rather than merely serving as a backend support function. For instance, the importance and necessity of technology in transforming legacy systems, reshaping customer experiences, detecting fraud, and offering more personalised solutions to customers are unparalleled today. Similarly, Generative AI is completely redefining CX, operational strategies, and various other aspects of the banking sector. At Maveric Systems, we are at the forefront of deploying such technologies for our global customers and adopting them internally to transform our operations. In 2024 and beyond, we will witness significant strides in the banking and financial services industry as it adopts technology to enable mass financial inclusion, foster innovation, and provide even more personalised, streamlined solutions for customers. Generative AI and emerging technologies such as Distributed Ledger, Cyber Risk Technologies, Gen AI, and Functional Process Automation will play a significant role in enabling these transitions in the years to come.”
Arvind Bharadwaj, Chief Technology Officer, MiniMines
“The preceding year brought endless opportunities for the science and research community in India; from strategic proposals to boost the space sector to our commitment towards drawing global practices for scientific learning. India’s capacity for innovation holds the key not only to technological advancement but also to addressing pressing global challenges such as climate change. One area where India’s innovative spirit shines brightly is in digital public infrastructure (DPI). India’s UPI, processes over 12 billion transactions monthly. In this era of rapid digitization, India’s prowess in DPI sets a precedent for the world, showcasing how innovative solutions can enhance efficiency, accessibility, and transparency in public service delivery.
This year on National Technology Day, we celebrate the boundless potential of human innovation, from the classrooms where curiosity sparks to the startup landscape where dreams take flight. This year’s theme, ‘School to Startups – Igniting Young Minds to Innovate,’ resonates deeply with our mission. By nurturing the curiosity of tomorrow’s leaders, we pave the way for groundbreaking advancements that shape our collective future. Let us honour the legacy of Indian scientists such as CV Raman, JC Bose, Homi Baba, APJ Abdul Kalam among countless others and their transformative contributions, inspiring generations to embrace the power of technology in driving positive change. Together, let’s forge ahead, fueled by curiosity, guided by innovation, and united in our pursuit of a brighter tomorrow.”
Sriraman Raghunathan, Global AI Leader, Marlabs
“AI is revolutionising technology and industries in numerous ways including automation, deep personalization and improved customer experience across industries such as healthcare, autonomous vehicles, retail, manufacturing and cybersecurity. More importantly, it is resulting in the great democratisation of access to knowledge, digital tools and levelling of certain specialisations, changing the way we interact with technology interfaces. Overall AI is accelerating innovation, improving efficiency, and unlocking new opportunities across industries.
Enterprises need to invest in newer technologies like GenAI to stay competitive and relevant in today’s rapidly shifting industry landscape. AI offers transformative capabilities that can disrupt traditional business processes and unlock new growth opportunities.
With so much noise and “me-too” behaviour around GenAI, our customers are struggling to find the right use cases and the right partner to help them deliver on those. To differentiate, Marlabs has a clear, competent messaging and unique value drivers by focusing our GenAI services on where enterprise organisations see its value – either save money, enable growth, or generate opportunities. Through a comprehensive AI Discovery and AI Agility Framework, we are empowering our customers to implement AI effectively and responsibly, ensuring a long-term advantage in the rapidly evolving AI landscape with the ability to adapt and scale effectively.”
Ashish Modi, President, Honeywell India
“Technology has revolutionized the business landscape, redefining job roles and transforming industries. To remain competitive and thrive in this dynamic landscape, industries must embrace innovation and equip their workforce with the necessary skills to adapt to emerging technologies, drive operational efficiencies, and unlock new growth opportunities.
The advent of generative AI technology is poised to disrupt industries across the spectrum, heralding an era of unprecedented innovation and creativity. However, as with any other technological revolution, this also brings forth the pressing need for upskilling and reskilling the workforce. Seamless integration of technology in daily work can be achieved with a proactive approach to equip the workforce with the necessary skills to harness the complete power of generative AI. We, at Honeywell, recognize this paradigm shift and the compelling need for upskilling that generative AI brings.
Honeywell believes in fostering an environment of curiosity, creativity, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. We are committed to co-innovating with our customers and bringing about future-ready technologies to revolutionize and transform industries.”
