Emerging Technologies Initiative (ETI) [Link for More Info: https://thesciencepolicyforum.org/initiatives/eti/]
Understanding and Shaping the Future of Technology Governance
Rationale
Rapid advances in emerging and disruptive technologies are reshaping the global order and redefining the foundations of governance, security, and development.
Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Blockchain, Quantum Computing, Internet of Things (IoT), and Biotechnology are influencing nearly every aspect of human activity — from the future of work and diplomacy to financial systems, genetic engineering, and autonomous systems.
While these innovations hold immense potential for social, economic, and environmental transformation, they also raise critical questions concerning privacy, ethics, equity, and security. The Emerging Technologies Initiative (ETI) seeks to address these challenges through informed research, collaboration, and policy development.
What is the ETI?
The Emerging Technologies Initiative (ETI) is a visionary platform designed to understand, analyze, and anticipate the impact of disruptive, futuristic, strategic, and critical technologies that underpin economies, employment, security, and international relations.
ETI’s mission is to generate knowledge, build capacity, and enable evidence-based policy choices that align with India’s developmental and national security priorities.
The initiative emphasizes indigenization — not merely through technology import or acquisition, but through co-development, collaboration, and capacity-building.
Objectives
ETI aims to:
Recommend appropriate policy choices and strengthen India’s negotiating capacity in global technology governance.
Identify technologies of strategic importance to India and develop roadmaps for their indigenization.
Create an informed ecosystem of stakeholders working at the intersection of science, technology, and diplomacy.
Promote international cooperation for responsible, inclusive, and ethical technology development.
Scope: What Are Emerging Technologies?
Emerging technologies encompass innovations with the potential to disrupt existing industries, influence global relations, and transform socio-economic systems.
These include new technologies as well as combinations of incremental and converging innovations, such as those driving FinTech, AgriTech, HealthTech, and CleanTech revolutions.
Indicative technology domains include (but are not limited to):
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Quantum Computing and Communications
Big Data and Advanced Analytics
Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies
Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
Cybersecurity and Cryptography
Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Systems
Robotics and Autonomous Systems
Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology
Space and Satellite Technologies
Green Energy and Climate Technologies
Expected Outcomes
The Emerging Technologies Initiative seeks to deliver tangible results through research, collaboration, and policy action.
Key outcomes include:
Development of a multidisciplinary community exploring intersections of science, technology, and international engagement.
Identification and prioritization of technologies crucial for India’s growth and security.
Mapping of technology and innovation hubs in India to anticipate policy and governance implications.
Creation of a Technology Intelligence Database (TID) to consolidate data on key emerging technologies.
Evidence-informed policy and program roadmaps to enhance domestic technology capacity and reduce dependency.
Capacity-building support for central/state ministries, industry, startups, and accelerators using TID insights.
Operationalization of indigenization roadmaps in partnership with relevant stakeholders.
Facilitation of stakeholder exchange to strengthen India’s emerging technology ecosystem.
Implementation Framework
The ETI is structured in two progressive phases:
ETI Phase 1
Formation of multidisciplinary teams to prepare:
Technology landscape and foresight reports
Policy recommendations
Indigenization and implementation roadmaps
Teams will focus on specific technologies relevant to India’s strategic and developmental priorities.
ETI Phase 2
Deliberation and validation of ETI Phase 1 outcomes by:
National and international experts
Industry leaders and entrepreneurs
Science attachés and diplomats
The goal is to incorporate findings into national policy frameworks and facilitate execution of technology roadmaps.
Participation Criteria
Open to Indian citizens and persons of Indian origin.
Team-based participation (up to 10 members per team).
Multidisciplinary, multi-institutional collaboration encouraged (across technology, policy, business, law, and social sciences).
Preference for teams including industry/startup representatives and diaspora professionals.
Phase 1 Process:
Submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) specifying the identified technology, a 500-word synopsis, and team composition.
Shortlisted teams will prepare and submit a Technology Strategy Paper (~5000 words).
Partner Institutions
Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA)
Established under the Cabinet Secretariat, the Office of PSA advises the Government on policies, strategies, and missions for Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI). It serves as the Secretariat for PM-STIAC and the Empowered Technology Group (ETG), and coordinates synergy projects across infrastructure, economy, and social sectors.
New Emerging & Strategic Technologies Division (NEST-MEA)
A specialized division within the Ministry of External Affairs, NEST-MEA fosters international cooperation on emerging technologies. It aims to:
Shape India’s position on global technology governance and standards.
Identify technologies of strategic importance.
Evaluate foreign policy implications of technological change.
Build partnerships for co-development and innovation diplomacy.
Science Policy Forum (SPF)
A collaborative platform that brings together policymakers, practitioners, and scholars to strengthen STI policy linkages. SPF supports outreach, capacity-building, and stakeholder dialogue on national and global science policy issues.