Chairperson of HCL Technologies, Roshni Nadar Malhotra, has called for the establishment of a global digital platform to drive technological innovation and research and development (R&D). Speaking at a B20 panel on technology, innovation, and R&D, Malhotra emphasized the need for cross-border collaboration in order to scale solutions and address the challenges associated with country-specific innovations.
Malhotra, who also co-chairs the B20 Taskforce on Digital Transformation, highlighted the alignment between her task force’s focus on bridging the digital divide, addressing digital literacy and skills gaps, and fostering digital trust, and the B20 Task Force on Technology, Innovation, and R&D’s recommendation for a digital platform.
She emphasized the importance of developing future skills and cited India’s success in investing in R&D in information technology since the 1970s. This investment attracted international companies to leverage India’s capabilities. Malhotra also stressed the significance of innovation and R&D for water as a resource, and called for efforts to bring global innovators to India to explore the scalability of their solutions.
Axilor Ventures chairman and Infosys co-founder S (Kris) Gopalakrishnan, who also spoke at the event, expressed the need for collaborations between G20 nations and B20 in areas such as Industry 4.0, Internet for All, and emerging technologies. He proposed the digital platform as a hub for experts, scientists, and visionaries to share ideas and collectively address pressing challenges. G20 nations, according to Gopalakrishnan, should invest in education and training programs to equip the workforce with skills for emerging technologies.
The panel released a compendium of case studies detailing 125 technology projects across member countries, providing a guide for future initiatives and enabling frameworks. Each case study describes the technology used, its impact, challenges faced, collaborative models adopted, and associated sustainable development goals (SDGs).
The establishment of a global digital platform for cross-border collaboration in technological innovation and R&D is expected to have a transformative impact, fostering increased knowledge sharing and addressing the specific challenges associated with scaling innovations. With India’s strong focus on R&D in information technology and an emphasis on attracting global innovators, there is hope for continued advancements in various sectors. The collaboration between G20 nations and B20 will also play a crucial role in driving technological progress and addressing global challenges.
