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Revisiting Industrialisation and Innovation in India: Roadmap for SDG 9

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2030 Agenda and India: Moving from Quantity to Quality

Part of the book series: South Asia Economic and Policy Studies ((SAEP))

Abstract

This chapter contextualises and conceptually captures industrialisation as part of the discourse on Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG 9). It is evident that there is huge divergence in the per capita manufacturing value-added between industrialised countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) which needs to be corrected and industrialisation should urgently adopt sustainable practices. Though by global standards, India’s industrial base remains large and diversified; it has failed to achieve global competitiveness across the board resulting in stagnation in terms of its share in the GDP that negatively impacts the quality of economic growth in terms of employment creation. The chapter proposes reorientation of industrialisation in India through building knowledge capacities to adopt to fast-moving industrial frontiers. Subsequently, the chapter focuses on the scope for deepening industrialisation in India against current priorities and future needs. Finally, it reflects on the indicator framework relevant to SDG 9 that would act as a guide for strengthening evaluation of the progress on industrialisation in the Indian context.

The authors are grateful to Professor Sachin Chaturvedi for his extensive comments on the earlier draft of the paper. The paper has also benefitted from comments received from Professor S. K. Mohanty. Responsibility of any error and omissions remain with the authors.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Mohanty and Saha (2019).

  2. 2.

    The content of economic reforms, both internal and external, as well as the impact on economic growth is a matter of intense academic discourse in India. Scholars arrive at diverse conclusions with regard to influence of specific reforms on economic growth and the overall structural break for the economy.

  3. 3.

    As suggested in the concept of induced innovation by Hicks (1963) and later Samuelson (1965), Drandakis and Phelps (1966), Nelson and Phelps (1966).

  4. 4.

    Highlighted in Lall (1986); other relevant studies are Pavitt (1984); Dahlman and Westphal (1982), Katz (1984) and Bell et al. (1984).

  5. 5.

    Romer (1986) famously captures the idea behind endogeneity of knowledge in growth where he demonstrates that economy enjoys increasing returns to knowledge through collective investments in knowledge creation.

  6. 6.

    This included scouting technological opportunities and sourcing of technologies from abroad.

  7. 7.

    This can be linked with India’s relatively low scope of university-industry co-authorship of research articles (DST R&D Statistics 2017–18).

  8. 8.

    A Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) is public–private partnership based international organisation established in 2000 with a common goal of improving the access of new and underused vaccine for children, who are living under extreme poverty globally.

  9. 9.

    NITI (2018) highlights USA’s leading position on AI research driven by its global MNCs and technology firms as well as strongly supported through public spending. Europe has not lagged behind with strong push in terms of research by the UK and Germany. China’s ambition is reflected in its drive for industrialisation and dedicated funding for AI research and support for high performing universities.

  10. 10.

    The report points that the initiatives lacks critical mass in terms of inter-disciplinary approaches. For example in health sector, Indian biomedical and genomics institutions are yet to harness AI. India’s participation in global AI conferences is far behind other nations with limited efforts at creating domestic conclaves.

  11. 11.

    01 Feb 2018 1:38 PM by PIB Delhi “Infrastructure Allocation enhanced to Rs. 5.97 Lakh Crore: Transport Sector Gets An All Time High Allocation”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Core IVB India Habitat Centre, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), Lodhi Road, New Delhi, 110003, India

    Sabyasachi Saha & Prativa Shaw

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  1. Sabyasachi Saha
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  2. Prativa Shaw
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Correspondence to Sabyasachi Saha .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. RIS for Developing Countries, New Delhi, Delhi, India

    Sachin Chaturvedi

  2. RIS for Developing Countries, New Delhi, Delhi, India

    T. C. James

  3. RIS for Developing Countries, New Delhi, Delhi, India

    Sabyasachi Saha

  4. RIS for Developing Countries, New Delhi, Delhi, India

    Prativa Shaw

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Saha, S., Shaw, P. (2019). Revisiting Industrialisation and Innovation in India: Roadmap for SDG 9. In: Chaturvedi, S., James, T., Saha, S., Shaw, P. (eds) 2030 Agenda and India: Moving from Quantity to Quality . South Asia Economic and Policy Studies. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9091-4_3

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