Visalakshi Talakokula, Associate Dean, Academics and Research & Development, École Centrale School of Engineering, Mahindra University said, “Academic institutions must work towards helping students understand their broader societal and long-term implications as India advances rapidly in AI and emerging technologies. Through integration of ethics-driven AI education into curricula along with promoting industry and global collaborations, encouraging interdisciplinary learning and creating platforms for research, innovation and community engagement. From ethical responsibility to self-awareness, ancient Indian teachings offer valuable perspectives. Institutions can incorporate these values through experiential learning, mentorship programmes, discussions on ethics and sustainability, and innovation-driven projects that address real societal challenges. This can act as a guide for students to view innovation as a tool for technological advancement and means to contribute meaningfully to society, human well-being, and sustainable development.”
C.P. Gurnani, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman, AIONOS, said, “The true measure of technology lies in its impact on humanity. Responsible innovation today is about building trust as much as it is about building technology. As digital ecosystems expand, enterprises must prioritize secure, ethical and inclusive digital transformation. At AIONOS, we see innovation as a force that should empower businesses of all sizes, foster digital sovereignty and create equitable opportunities in a connected world. Growth is truly inclusive only when technology is designed with accountability, resilience and people at its core.”
Mr. Anku Jain, Managing Director, MediaTek India said, “India’s technology landscape is rapidly transitioning from a cost-efficient IT services base to a high-value global innovation hub, with IT spending projected to exceed $176 billion. It has become a primary driver of inclusive growth, creating massive opportunities across the economy. We see a future where responsible innovation bridges the digital gap, ensuring that cutting-edge technology is both accessible and sustainable. At MediaTek, our vision is to power inclusive growth by enabling high-performance, energy-efficient technologies that reach billions, from smartphones to smart homes. By democratizing advanced technologies, we are enabling smarter lives and by focusing on responsible design, we continue to develop innovative technologies that are affordable and meaningful for users across both urban and rural India.”
Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, Esri India said, “Technology has the potential to drive meaningful and lasting progress when it is designed with inclusivity, sustainability and resilience at its core. Geospatial intelligence has been enabling organisations and governments to make more informed decisions by bringing greater visibility into complex challenges across urban development, climate resilience, infrastructure and community planning. At Esri India, we believe innovation must ultimately create impact that is accessible, equitable and future-ready, helping build stronger ecosystems and a more balanced path to growth. As industries continue to evolve, the ability to combine data, location intelligence and collaboration will play a critical role in building better and more sustainable communities.”
Pankaj Malik, CEO & Whole-time Director, Invenia-STL Networks “The Digital India vision has laid a remarkable foundation connecting cities, towns, and gram panchayats. Yet, the next chapter demands infrastructure that is not just connected but intelligent. The AI-ready infrastructure of the future will be defined by high-density compute that can sustain large-scale model workloads, distributed edge architectures that reduce latency and bring intelligence closer to the point of action, and intelligent power management that treats energy as a strategic resource. Green data centres, built on advanced cooling, renewable integration, and energy-efficient design, will soon become baseline requirements. The future of technology will depend on how sustainably we power the intelligence we are creating.”
Gadhadar Reddy, Co-Founder & CEO, NoPo Nanotechnologies, said, “National Technology Day is not just a reflection of India’s innovation journey, but a call to lead through deep science and advanced materials. Advanced materials will define the next era of industrial transformation, with carbon nanotubes unlocking new levels of performance across energy, electronics, and manufacturing. The real challenge lies in moving from breakthrough to deployment where innovation must be scalable, efficient, and viable at optimized cost.”
Shrikrishna Dikshit Partner – Risk Advisory, Baker Tilly ASA India, said, “India’s tech journey has always been defined by leapfrogging constraints; today, Artificial Intelligence is our ultimate accelerator. But speed requires steering. As we race toward a $5 trillion digital economy, the true leaders won’t just be those who deploy AI the fastest, but those who build on a foundation of resilience. Cyber risk, data governance, and ethical controls cannot be afterthoughts—they are the very components of innovation itself. By embedding intelligent risk frameworks that evolve alongside our technology, we ensure our progress is not just fast, but sustainable. Let’s innovate with ambition but lead with trust.”
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, VC, World University of Design, said “On National Technology Day, we must recognise that the future of innovation will not be defined only by technological capability, but by how responsibly and inclusively we deploy it. As AI and emerging technologies reshape industries and education, institutions must move beyond rigid frameworks and encourage experimentation, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary learning. India has the talent and academic strength to lead the next wave of innovation, but bridging the gap between ambition and access will require greater institutional trust, policy flexibility, and a conscious effort to align technological progress with societal impact. Responsible innovation is not about slowing progress, but about shaping it with purpose.”
