Kris Gopalakrishnan Advocates for Deep Tech to Foster India's Next Unicorns
Deep tech to drive India's next Unicorn wave: Kris Gopalakrishnan
Business StandardImage: Business Standard
Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Infosys, emphasized the need for Indian startups to focus on deep technology and advanced manufacturing at the CII Unicorn Summit 2026. He believes this shift, supported by a government R&D fund of $11 billion, is crucial for India's strategic autonomy and economic development.
- 01Kris Gopalakrishnan defines the next startup phase as 'Unicorn 2.0', focusing on deep tech and advanced manufacturing.
- 02He highlights the government's $11 billion R&D Fund as a catalyst for developing a robust deep tech ecosystem.
- 03Gopalakrishnan stresses the importance of owning critical technologies to reduce dependence on foreign nations.
- 04He calls for the establishment of an industry association to influence government policies for startups.
- 05The shift to deep tech is seen as essential for India to achieve developed economy status.
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At the CII Unicorn Summit 2026, Kris Gopalakrishnan (co-founder of Infosys) outlined a vision for India's next wave of billion-dollar startups, termed 'Unicorn 2.0'. He urged entrepreneurs to pivot towards deep technology and advanced manufacturing, moving away from the consumer internet and fintech sectors. Gopalakrishnan emphasized that while deep tech ventures are more challenging and have higher failure rates, the potential rewards—economic, strategic, and civilizational—are significant. He pointed to the Indian government's $11 billion (approximately ₹1 lakh crore) Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund as a critical component in fostering this transition, predicting it could help create a $30-40 billion R&D ecosystem with private investments. He also highlighted the importance of manufacturing complete supply chains domestically, particularly in critical sectors like AI, semiconductors, and defense, to mitigate vulnerabilities exposed by geopolitical tensions. Gopalakrishnan called for the formation of a dedicated industry association to guide government policy, drawing parallels to the establishment of Nasscom in 1988, which played a pivotal role in shaping India's IT industry.
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This shift towards deep tech could lead to significant job creation in advanced manufacturing and technology sectors, enhancing India's economic independence.
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