CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY TRACKER REPORT (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: India has emerged as a global research powerhouse, ranking among the top five countries in 45 out of 64 critical technologies in 2023, up from 37 a year before. According to the Critical Technology Tracker report.

Critical Technology Tracker Report

• About: It is a large data-driven project that now covers 64 critical technologies spanning defence, space, energy, the environment, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, robotics, cyber, computing, advanced materials and key quantum technology areas.
• Published by: Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

o The country has secured the second position in seven technologies.

• Launched: March 2023
• Objective: It provides a leading indicator of a country’s research performance, strategic intent and potential future science and technology capability.
• About Report: This report introduces a significant update to ASPI’s Critical Technology Tracker website, showcasing leading scientific and research innovation in critical technologies.

Key Highlights of Report:

• High-Impact Research as an Indicator: The report highlights top 10% of highly cited papers to indicate research performance, strategic intent, and potential future S&T capability.
• Coverage of Critical Technologies: The Tech Tracker now includes 64 critical technologies and fields, expanding from five years of data (2018–2022) to 21 years (2003–2023).
• China’s Growth in Technology: China’s leadership has surged from three technologies in 2003–2007 to 57 of 64 technologies in 2019–2023, reflecting a dramatic increase in its research dominance.
• Emergence of India: In 2023, India also overtook the US to claim the second spot in two emerging fields of technological research: biological manufacturing and distributed ledger technology.

o India ranks just behind the US and China in various key segments, including advanced data analytics, AI algorithm, hardware accelerator, machine learning, advanced integrated circuit design and fabrication, natural language processing, and adversarial AI.

• Other Nations: Despite rising S&T powers, the US, UK, and various European, Northeast Asian, and Middle Eastern countries retain strong positions in certain high-impact research areas.