Next two decades crucial for India in terms of development: Dr. VK Aatre
By R Anil Kumar
Bengaluru, December 18, 2025. Former Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister Dr. Vasudev Kalkunte Aatre (Dr. V K Aatre) on December 18, underlined that the coming decades will be decisive for India’s ambition to become a fully developed nation by 2047.
Speaking at the International Conference on Advances in Computational and Experimental Approaches in Aerostructures organised by Jain University, Dr. Aatre stressed that the country’s technological progress must now be matched by applied innovation to translate research into tangible, marketable products.
“India has made remarkable strides in aerospace, defense, and artificial intelligence, but the next decades are crucial if we have to achieve our 2047 development goals,” Aatre said.
Delving further into technological changes Dr. Aatre said that compared to previous years technological advancements have brought many changes in many fields, right from agriculture to aerospace and they have ensured the availability of Information at fingertips, he added.
“It is difficult to predict future technologies, but it is essential to be ready to adapt to new ones.” Micro and Nano technologies are expected to dominate in the future, Dr. Aatre added.
Technological advancements have played a vital role over past decades paving way for satellite Communication, emergence of artificial intelligence with supersonic speed, drone manufacturing and so on, he stated.
Dr. Aatre however cautioned that while India has a strong research base, it cannot rely solely on theoretical advances. “It is not enough to discuss technologies or run simulations—our efforts must produce tangible outcomes for the country and the global market.”
Tracing India’s technological journey over the past century, Aatre highlighted milestones from polymers, plastics, and transistors to microelectronics, lasers, robotics, digital systems, and the worldwide web.
He said that artificial intelligence has now pervaded nearly every field, from aerospace and agriculture to transportation, healthcare, marketing, and economics, underscoring the vast potential of applied technologies to accelerate national development.
Emphasising aerospace and defence as drivers of innovation, he cited India’s satellite launches, Chandrayaan missions, and missile systems like BrahMos and Agni. He noted that aerospace technology, which integrates materials, electronics, AI, guidance, navigation, and structural systems, offers a unique platform to convert research into products with national and global impact.
Dr. Aatre also stressed the importance of having more brain storming sessions to generate innovative ideas to advance in technology and urged students, scientists, and industry leaders to envision India as a global technology leader and to focus on producing solutions that serve both domestic and international markets. “Six per cent of the world’s population is Indian. Technology cannot thrive without Indians being at the hub of innovation. Let’s make India extremely good—not just in ideas, but in products,” he said.
Highlighting the strategic significance of applied innovation, Aatre said the country must accelerate the conversion of R&D into industry-ready solutions to ensure India not only keeps pace with global technological trends but also builds self-reliance across critical sectors.
He concluded by emphasising that India’s existing technological foothold provides a foundation to achieve its 2047 goals, provided research is consistently translated into practical, marketable, and globally competitive products.
