The Indigenization of Technology is a core concept and process in India's national policy, defined as developing, adapting, and producing technologies domestically to reduce imports and foster self-reliance. It involves substituting imported items with domestically manufactured alternatives that are often advanced and reliable, rather than mere replicas.
The origin of this drive is rooted in post-independence efforts to build a foundational scientific and technological infrastructure, marked by the establishment of institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). A key milestone was the proposal of Technology Vision 2020 by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in 1998, which aimed to make India a developed nation through science and technology. The problem it seeks to solve is minimizing dependency on external technological imports to achieve strategic autonomy and economic sovereignty.
The mechanism works through various institutions and policy frameworks, such as the Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), established in 1988, which conducts foresight exercises and suggests technology roadmaps. It is closely connected to the national initiatives 'Make in India' (launched in 2014) and the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan' (Self-Reliant India Mission). In the defense sector, the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) recently amended its Transfer of Technology policy to waive the earlier 20 per cent fee for development-cum-production partners and granted Indian industries free access to its patents to bolster domestic capability. This recent change reinforces the push for indigenous innovation and manufacturing. The concept is also guided by strategic documents like the Technology Vision 2035, a TIFAC roadmap for technological self-reliance.