Our Statement on India’s 1st National Research Foundation Meeting

This past week has marked a significant period for both the Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, with notable developments in the field of technology and research that promise to shape the future of India's technological landscape.

The successful conclusion of SEMICON India 2024 in Greater Noida stands as a testament to India's growing prominence in the global semiconductor industry. The Secretariat of ISAIL congratulates the Government of Uttar Pradesh for its proactive approach, which has resulted in the approval of three major semiconductor investment proposals:

1. Tarq Semiconductors: Securing 125 acres in Sector 28, YEIDA, with an investment of ₹28,440 crores, backed by Darshan Hiranandani.

2. Vamasundari Investments: Allocated 50 acres in Sector 10, YEIDA, with an investment of ₹13,599 crores, supported by HCL Enterprise & Foxconn.

3. Kaynes Semicon: Allocated 50 acres in Sector 10, YEIDA, with an investment of ₹4,248 crores.

These developments are a promising step forward as India embarks on the second phase of its ambitious Semiconductor Mission, with further investment proposals currently under review at the Union Government level. The Cabinet's anticipated approvals in the next 3-4 months will be crucial in driving India's semiconductor ecosystem forward.

Additionally, ISAIL extends its congratulations to the Government of India for the successful inaugural meeting of the National Research Foundation (NRF), chaired by the Prime Minister. The NRF's focus on fostering innovation and research is commendable and essential for the nation's progress.

The Secretariat also acknowledges the Uttar Pradesh Government's swift action in fast-tracking semiconductor investment approvals, a move that underscores the state's commitment to becoming a key player in India's semiconductor mission.

Moreover, we welcome the recent clarification from the Finance Minister, exempting Government Universities (Central & State) and their research centres & institutions from paying GST. This exemption will undoubtedly provide much-needed relief and support to these institutions.

However, while these achievements are noteworthy, it is imperative to address the current state of computing infrastructure at our premier institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Science (IISCs) and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). The conditions at these institutions are concerning and require urgent attention from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

ISAIL urges the Government of India to prioritise robust backup measures through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and the Prime Minister's Office to enhance the infrastructure at these institutions. This will ensure that they can fully leverage the opportunities presented by initiatives like INDIAai.

In light of these developments, ISAIL supports an earlier proposal by Indic Pacific Legal Research for the establishment of a dedicated Ministry of Emerging Technologies. This ministry would be instrumental in guiding pre-regulatory innovation pathways, allowing our institutions the necessary flexibility to experiment, learn, and advance in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

For further insights on this proposal, please refer to Mr Abhivardhan detailed report: "Reimagining and Restructuring MeitY for India".

The Secretariat of ISAIL remains committed to supporting and advocating for the advancement of AI and technological governance in India, and we look forward to continued collaboration with all stakeholders in this mission.

The ISAIL Leadership

Abhivardhan, Founder & Chairperson

Akash Manwani, Secretary-General

Pratejas Tomar, Chief Policy Advisor

Aditya Jakki, Chief Media Advisor

Mridutpal Bhattacharyya, Chief Strategy Advisor

Sanjay Notani, President of the Advisory Council

Bogdan Grigorescu, Vice-President of the Advisory Council

Kapil Naresh, Trishla Parihar & Bhavana J Sekhar, Special Executive Advisors

Kailash Chauhan, Chairperson, R&D Committee

Supratim Bapuli, Co-Chairperson, R&D Committee

Ayush Chandra, Chairperson, Research Ethics Committee

---

The ISAIL Research Committee, led by their Chairperson, Ayush Chandra, is set to host an intriguing committee session on “The Economics of Compute Infrastructure & its Role in Shaping AI Ecosystems” on September 15, 2024, 4 PM IST.

Register at https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/592a8f66-8945-4ea2-9630-bae473b70937@a15f4c55-bcda-4da4-925e-1ccec43f071e

This timely discussion will explore the critical intersection of AI compute infrastructure, economics, and ecosystem development, with a focus on the unique challenges and opportunities facing the Global South.