India's Draft National Robotics Strategy Seeks Public Input

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India's Draft National Robotics Strategy Seeks Public Input

India's Draft National Robotics Strategy Seeks Public Input

Industry News
Sep 08,23

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has extended an invitation for public comments and input from stakeholders regarding the draft "National Strategy for Robotics" (NSR), with the deadline set for October 31.

India's Draft National Robotics Strategy Seeks Public Input

The NSR draft seeks to enhance all aspects of the innovation cycle in the field of robotic technology and establish a sturdy institutional framework for the effective execution of these initiatives. This call for input from MeitY coincides with a substantial increase in the operational stock of industrial robots in India, which more than doubled from 2016 to 2021, reaching 33,220 units, with an average annual growth rate of 16 per cent . As of the World Robotics Report 2022, India currently ranks 10th worldwide in terms of annual industrial robot installations.

So, what are the key components of this draft?

What's Included in the Draft?

The draft NSR outlines a policy framework for the integration of robotics across various sectors, aiming to position India as a global leader in robotics by 2030. It aligns with the objectives of the Make in India 2.0 initiative, which identifies robotics as one of the 27 sub-sectors critical to enhancing India's role in the global value chain.

The draft identifies four core sectors for prioritising robotics automation: manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and national security. MeitY is proposed to serve as the central agency for robotics, employing a two-tier institutional framework for implementing the NSR, termed the 'National Robotics Mission' (NRM).

The draft also suggests fiscal and non-fiscal interventions by the NRM to promote innovation in robotics, including funding mechanisms for robotics startups and export promotion.

Key Recommendations in the Draft NFR

One significant recommendation is the establishment of a robust regulatory framework, led by the independent Robotics Innovation Unit (RIU) under MeitY as part of India's AI efforts.

Additionally, the draft proposes the creation of Robotics Centers of Excellence (CoEs) categorised into foundational and applied research. For applied research, private sector involvement in priority sectors is encouraged to support experimental prototyping and small-scale production for initial commercialisation.

The draft outlines plans to provide advisory support to startups, leverage the research capabilities of higher education institutions, and develop dedicated robotics industrial zones.

In the initial stages, the draft suggests that the central government should act as a demand aggregator for domestically manufactured robotic systems. This involves a proposed Public Procurement Policy for Robotics, aimed at incentivising domestic production by favoring suppliers meeting minimum local content requirements over imports or assembly.

Why is the NFR Necessary?

The draft acknowledges the challenges facing the robotics ecosystem in India, including high import dependence, expensive hardware components, and inadequate investments in research and development. The shortage of skilled resources and technical expertise is cited as a hindrance to ambitious adoption. Importantly, the integration of robotics with India's artificial intelligence program raises privacy and security concerns, exacerbated by heavy reliance on robotics components from China and Japan.

Global Robotics Regulation Overview

Several other countries have made substantial commitments to robotics policy:

China has allocated $43.5 million for its robotics policy, focusing on innovation, supply enhancement, manufacturing, and robot density increase.

The U.S. has invested $15.7 million in robotics, with initiatives such as the National Robotics Initiative 3.0 and the Department of Defense's unmanned systems budget.

Japan leads in financial commitment with $1,370.5 million for 2020-2025, emphasising R&D projects, global standardisation, regulatory reform, and annual robotics summits.

Other economies like Germany and South Korea have also launched robust robotics development plans, with South Korea committing $451.23 million between 2019 and 2023.

Source: Business Standard