Deep Tech & Engineering Excellence: Driving India's Techade

‘Deep Tech and Engineering Excellence: Driving India’s Techade’ – that is the theme chosen by the Institution of Engineers (India) for this year’s Engineers’ Day.

It captures the urgency and promise of our times. We are standing on the threshold of a transformative decade, one that has rightly been described as India’s Techade. The technologies that define this era — artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, advanced robotics, cybersecurity, biotechnology, and new materials — are not incremental advances but deep, structural shifts that will shape how nations progress, how societies function and how humanity addresses its greatest challenges. Unlike conventional digital tools of the past, deep technologies demand rigorous research, long-term commitment and, above all, the imaginative application of engineering excellence.

India has already taken a bold step in this direction with the National Deep Tech Start-up Policy of 2024, which seeks to create an ecosystem where visionary ideas are encouraged, nurtured and transformed into practical innovations. Yet, let us remember that policies and frameworks, though vital, cannot by themselves usher in change. True transformation depends on engineers — on us. It is our creativity, our perseverance, our sense of responsibility, and our ability to collaborate across disciplines that will convert the promise of deep tech into tangible progress. Engineers are no longer simply problem-solvers; they are shapers of the future, architects of a society where technology must serve human dignity, equity and sustainability.

As we step into this Techade, the challenges before us are immense, but so are the opportunities. India aspires to become a global powerhouse not just in economic terms but in thought leadership, technological sovereignty and human-centred innovation as well. To achieve this, deep tech must be woven into every sector of national life.

Our energy transition, for instance, cannot succeed without breakthroughs in storage technologies, smart grids and green hydrogen. Our healthcare system cannot be truly inclusive without biotechnological advances, affordable biomedical devices and AI-driven diagnostic tools. Our agriculture cannot remain resilient against climate change without precision farming and climate-smart engineering interventions. Our defence and space ambitions cannot be realised without mastery over semiconductors, advanced materials and robotics. Each of these domains requires engineers with courage to imagine, competence to execute and character to uphold values.

The world today also looks at India with renewed expectations. In my capacity as Executive Vice-President of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), I have witnessed how global conversations on engineering — whether they concern climate change, disaster risk management, sustainable urbanisation or digital security — increasingly seek India’s leadership. We are no longer seen as passive recipients of technology but as active creators of solutions. This brings with it a responsibility that we cannot afford to ignore. The ethical deployment of artificial intelligence, the safeguarding of cyberspace, equitable sharing of advanced knowledge — these are not abstract debates but pressing concerns where Indian engineers must offer both wisdom and leadership.

The Institution of Engineers (India) has long been an enabler of national missions. Recognised as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, IEI has nurtured innovation, supported students through its grant-in-aid scheme and forged strong links between academia and industry, keeping Indian engineers at the forefront of progress. Further strengthening its role, IEI has now become an Awarding Body (Dual Category) recognised by NCVET, empowering it to award, assess, and certify learners for approved qualifications.

In reflecting upon this year’s theme, I am reminded of the words of Sir M Visvesvaraya, who once said that the engineer’s duty is to strive for perfection in whatever task is entrusted, however humble it may appear. That timeless call resonates even more today. For in deep tech, perfection is not optional, it is essential. But alongside perfection, we must carry humility and responsibility, for technology without values can become destructive. Deep tech, if guided by human compassion and ethical purpose, can uplift humanity in ways never imagined.

I wish to particularly remind the young engineers that you are the custodians of this Techade. Dream boldly, think unconventionally, and innovate without fear. But as you do so, remember that the worth of an engineer is not measured by patents or algorithms alone, but by the lives touched, the inequities reduced and the dignity preserved. In your hands lies the power to make India not only a technological superpower but also a moral exemplar of how technology can serve humanity.

On the great occasion of the 58th Engineers’ Day, let us pledge to rededicate ourselves to the ideals of engineering excellence. Let us celebrate not only our achievements but also our responsibilities. Let us ensure that India does not merely participate in the global march of technology but leads it with confidence, wisdom and integrity. And let us reaffirm our faith in the power of engineering — not just to build bridges of steel and concrete but to build bridges of trust, progress and hope.

As we celebrate Engineers’ Day, let us carry forward the legacy of Sir Visvesvaraya, embrace the promise of deep technologies and dedicate ourselves to building not just a technologically advanced India, but a just and humane India.

—-The writer is Executive Vice President of World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO).

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