Musings

National security often hinges on the unspectacular, as defence strategy experts like to say — systems quietly built for reliability in less-than-ideal conditions. In the coming decade, military and critical civil infrastructure will face a new challenge: dependence on global navigation satellite systems, a convenience rapidly becoming a liability.   Recent conflicts and technological disruptions have demonstrated that drone warfare is shifting rapidly towards an era in which

Significant technological and cost challenges remain, but long-term support is also forthcoming from corporate and governments.   The market for pulling carbon dioxide directly from the air is seeing important shifts in 2025 – most notably, growing purchases from corporate – via carbon credits, for example, and sustained long-term government support. Startups have made progress on their commercialisation routes.   Direct air capture (DAC)—the technology that uses chemical, el

India's ambitious push into green hydrogen production is creating substantial opportunities for domestic deep-tech startups, with companies like Newtrace demonstrating how innovative engineering can address cost barriers that have limited clean hydrogen adoption.   The government's National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched in January 2023 with close to Rs. 20,000 crore in funding,  aims to produce  five million tonnes annually by 2030. Recent policy developments have accelera

The robotics industry finds itself at a fascinating crossroads. While Figure AI recently secured more than $1 billion at a staggering $39 billion valuation—a 15x increase from its previous funding round—and other humanoid robotics companies chase similarly astronomical valuations, some industry practitioners advocate for a more grounded approach to automation.   Gokul NA and Nikhil Ramaswamy, the founders of CynLr, a Bengaluru-based robotics company that has deliberately chos

India's semiconductor startup landscape is becoming richer, helped by strategic partnerships, more venture funding as well as greater public support for startups in the sector. We are beginning to see milestones reached that mark the early stages of a shift from tech demonstrations to commercial operations.

India stands at a crossroads on its journey towards autonomy in positioning, navigation, and timing (PXNT) systems.

Optimism and investment are rising, more breakthroughs are anticipated, and a commercial reactor is expected as early as the next 10-15 years. It’s time for Indian startups, too, to step up.

The venture capital world is placing bigger bets on quantum computing than ever before. In Germany, Q.ANT, a wholly owned subsidiary of the industrial high-tech company TRUMPF, has just closed a €62 million Series A round — Europe's largest funding round for photonic computing. Q.ANT is also leading a consortium that’s secured €50 million in government research grants.

Manufacturing in the Final Frontier: An Opportunity for India’s Space Tech Startups The space industry witnessed a pivotal moment last...