India - an Emerging Superpower in Deeptech
- Shrikant Soman
- Nov 11
- 4 min read
India - an Emerging Superpower in Deeptech
by Shrikant Soman
India - an Emerging Superpower in DeeptechIndia's Deeptech Sector Set to Explode to $30 Billion by 2030, Driven by Defence and Robotics
In essence, this status transforms India from a significant consumer of technology into a vital producer and exporter, positioning deeptech as a key pillar of its future economic strategy.
India's deeptech sector is poised for exponential growth, with its market opportunity projected to reach a formidable $30 billion by 2030. There are two primary forces fueling this massive expansion: rapid defence innovation and a surging demand in the global robotics market.
Defence Innovation: The Primary Growth Engine
The deeptech market, which has already grown 2.5 times in the past five years, is being strongly accelerated by government spending on advanced technologies. India has demonstrated a significant shift in its strategic focus, with the national defence budget doubling over the last decade to $80 billion.
This growth in defence spending has not only been substantial but has also surpassed the growth rates recorded by other top global spenders, including the US and China, during the same period. This accelerated outlay has fostered domestic innovation in high-impact areas, creating a robust "defence-deeptech flywheel" that is now generating predictable, investable returns.
Immediate opportunities identified in this domain include:
* Autonomous Systems
* AI-enabled Training
* Energy Propulsion Technologies, particularly for intelligent and resilient drones
Robotics Boom and India’s Cost Advantage
The second major driver of India's deeptech growth is the global acceleration in robotics adoption. The global robotic machines market, currently valued at around $60 billion, is anticipated to surge to nearly $230 billion by 2030.
A breakout category within this global boom is humanoid robotics, which is estimated to represent a $10 billion opportunity by 2030. This is where India holds a crucial strategic advantage:
* Low-Cost Scale Hub: India is emerging as the only trusted, low-cost scale hub outside China for deeptech manufacturing and innovation.
* Cost Efficiency: The production costs for humanoid robots in India are approximately 73% lower than in the US. This advantage is attributed to efficient local integration, comparatively low labour costs, and optimized sourcing.
The current deeptech market base is estimated at $9–12 billion as of FY2025, demonstrating that the sector's projected rise to $30 billion is not merely a long-term goal but a tangible, accelerated trajectory.
Deeptech as the 'Next Economic Engine
The Redseer report underscores the strategic importance of this sector, concluding that “Deeptech is no longer tomorrow’s bet — it’s the next economic engine”. The convergence of rapidly increasing government commitment to defence indigenization and India’s potential to become a global manufacturing hub for advanced robotics is paving the way for a major technological renaissance over the next decade.
The implication of India becoming the "only trusted, low-cost scale hub outside China" for deeptech manufacturing, especially in robotics, is profound and signifies a massive strategic and economic shift.
This development has far-reaching consequences across technology, geopolitics, and manufacturing.
Strategic and Geopolitical Implications
1. Supply Chain De-risking and Resilience
The primary impact relates to global supply chain diversification. Many Western nations and multinational corporations (MNCs) have been actively seeking to reduce their reliance on China—a process often called "China+1."
* Trusted Alternative: India's democratic structure, relatively stable regulatory environment, and established trade relations position it as a "trusted" partner, especially for sensitive deeptech and defence-related manufacturing, where IP protection and political stability are paramount.
* Reduced Concentration Risk: By building a scaled, non-Chinese manufacturing base, India helps the world de-risk its supply chains for critical components and finished robotic and deeptech products.
2. Enhanced Geopolitical Leverage
A strong domestic deeptech industry, particularly in defence and critical technologies, gives India greater self-reliance (Aatmanirbharta).
* Defence Autonomy: Indigenization means less dependence on foreign suppliers for advanced military hardware, enhancing national security and foreign policy independence.
* Technology Leadership: As India scales up manufacturing, it gains influence in global technology standards and governance discussions.
Economic and Manufacturing Implications
1. Cost-Competitive Manufacturing Hub
India's ability to produce complex products like humanoid robots at costs estimated to be 73% lower than the US is a powerful economic magnet.
* Attracting FDI: This cost advantage, combined with a large pool of skilled engineers and a growing domestic market, makes India highly attractive for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in advanced manufacturing and R&D.
* Scalability: The "scale hub" designation implies that India has the necessary infrastructure and workforce to handle high-volume production, moving beyond small-scale prototyping to mass industrial output.
2. Job Creation and Skill Development
The massive growth of the deeptech sector will drive demand for specialized talent, leading to significant domestic benefits.
* High-Value Jobs: It will create a large number of high-skilled, high-paying jobs in areas like AI, advanced materials, robotics engineering, and software development.
* Educational Focus: This demand will compel educational institutions to focus more on deeptech disciplines, creating a virtuous cycle of talent development and industrial growth.
3. Boosting Exports
By filling the global manufacturing gap, India's deeptech products, including robotics and advanced defence components, will become a major export category.
This will significantly improve India's balance of trade and establish the nation as a credible global supplier of cutting-edge technology, moving beyond traditional exports.
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Source
Redseer Strategy Consultants
India's DeepTech Renaissance: The Convergence of Defence, Robotics & Innovation Opening New Opportunities, released on 6 November 2025
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