Technology Sovereignty at the Core
Addressing the gathering, Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood underlined that advanced manufacturing systems form the backbone of modern industrial economies. He stressed that India must develop strong domestic capabilities in high-precision machines, CNC controllers, sensors and quality infrastructure to ensure technological sovereignty and resilient supply chains.
Prof. Sood said advanced manufacturing is central to the vision of Viksit Bharat. He highlighted key enablers such as the industry-led Research, Development and Innovation Fund and the grant-based Anusandhan National Research Foundation to support deep-tech research and translational innovation.
He also called for localisation of critical technologies, alignment with global standards and enhanced Industry 4.0 readiness supported by advanced skilling initiatives.
Systems-Level Mission Architecture
Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary at OPSA, noted that extensive consultations over the past year have shaped the contours of the proposed mission. She emphasised adopting a systems-level approach aligned with Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial deployment.
Dr. Maini stressed the need for targeted R&D, shared testing infrastructure and internationally benchmarked certification systems. Stronger collaboration between industry and academia, she said, would be essential to accelerate industrial adoption of indigenous technologies.
Capital Goods and Indigenous Innovation
S. Kris Gopalakrishnan, President of the Governing Council of CMTI and co-founder of Infosys, highlighted the critical role of the capital goods sector in supporting high-value manufacturing industries. He called for sustained partnerships to reduce import dependence and deepen India’s technological capabilities.
Shri Vijay Mittal, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Heavy Industries, said the proposed mission would provide long-term growth momentum. He pointed out that the Ministry’s capital goods scheme has already supported indigenous development and test infrastructure creation.
On the occasion, Prof. Sood inaugurated the Ball Screw Lead Error Testing and Certification System at CMTI, described as the first such facility in India under the Capital Goods Scheme.
Three Key Technology Tracks
The consultation moved into three parallel technical sessions covering CNC machine tool control systems and advanced machines; robotics and robotic arms; and advanced additive manufacturing systems including 3D and 4D printing.
Deliberations identified gaps in high-end machine tools and aggregates, limited scale in robotics manufacturing and ecosystem constraints in precision supply chains. Participants underscored the importance of policy support, public procurement and industry-led problem statements to accelerate indigenous adoption.
The additive manufacturing session emphasised materials qualification, shared prototyping infrastructure and industrial-scale validation systems. Experts agreed that stronger academia-industry collaboration would be key to scaling innovations.
Mission-Oriented Roadmap Ahead
Sixteen breakout working groups identified strategic priorities, collaborative R&D projects, budget frameworks and risk mitigation strategies. Around 220 stakeholders participated in the day-long consultation.
The inputs will feed into the draft Advanced Manufacturing Systems proposal, which aims to integrate research, validation, testing and industrial deployment under a coordinated national architecture.
With growing global competition in advanced manufacturing, the proposed mission signals India’s intent to secure a stronger foothold in high-precision, technology-driven production systems.
