Politics · India Bureau
India's manufacturers urged to prioritise innovation over scale
Industry leaders have called for Indian manufacturers to shift focus toward design-led innovation and technology ownership rather than pursuing growth through production volume alone. The appeal came during the inaugural session of a major CII conference on advanced manufacturing.
LSN India ·
Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry's advanced manufacturing conference, experts stressed the critical need for domestic producers to move beyond traditional volume-driven strategies and embrace higher-value manufacturing models.
The speakers highlighted value addition, design-led innovation, and indigenous technology development as key pillars for India's manufacturing sector to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in global markets. This shift would require manufacturers to invest in research and development capabilities, build in-house technical expertise, and focus on creating differentiated products rather than relying on cost-based competition.
Industry observers note that such a transition aligns with India's broader ambitions to position itself as a high-tech manufacturing hub. The emphasis on design and innovation reflects growing recognition that emerging economies must move up the value chain to sustain long-term industrial growth and create high-quality employment opportunities.
The conference underscored growing consensus among policymakers and industry leaders that India's manufacturing renaissance depends on fostering an ecosystem that rewards innovation and technological self-reliance across sectors ranging from electronics and automotive to pharmaceuticals and advanced materials.