SECOND MEETING OF THE HIGH-TECH DEFENCE INNOVATION FORUM16th December, 2011

Building a High-Tech Defence Innovation Base in India

December 16, 2011

Smita Purushottamemail: smitapurushottam@gmail.com

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Fortifying ChinaKey to understanding Chinas success in building an innovation modelMany of its principles underlie the recommendations of the High-Tech Defence Innovation Forum.Ideological confusions resolved.Circulated to NSAB and Task Force on Self-reliance in Defence Production. Second meeting of the Forum key Decision Makers & Stakeholders present.High-Tech Google Group: all concerned citizens can join.

Why Chinas Technology Model?

Justin Yifu Lin Chief Economist World BankBoth India and China started with similar economic models with the same distortionsStruggled with the legacy of a Statist model and from low-tech baseNow, transitioning from central economic planning to a market and then high-tech oriented economyScale no other country matches India & similarity of nation-building exercise

Additional Reasons

Relentless and fast-paced Chinese technological advances especially in the military area pose a security challenge.China producing a vast array of advanced weaponry & upsetting the military balance in the Asia-Pacific region. ASBM proof of forethought 1996.Contrast with our situation 70% imported defence equipment.

Another reason for looking at Chinas modelCurrent macro-economic indices

Rupee currently called Asias worst-performing currency. Why:Industrial output slowed and fell 5% in 1 year in October 2011.Indian investment fleeing totally contradicts economic principles that state that assets are bought when currency devalues.Not just cyclical and international factors.

MOC: Indias merchandise trade deficit to reach unsustainable 13% of GDP by 2014

We import fullyOver 70% of machine tools, basic building blocks 90% modern telecommunications and IT hardware equipment: missed our chance in 1999100% civil aerospace equipment and aircraft70% of defence requirements? But Governments own Audit report import component of the Dhruv Light Air Helicopter at 90%. Rail equipment contrast this with China!And now inevitably - consumer goods.

Sam Pitroda: Electronics import bill could surpass oil ReutersNov 13, 2011

India must invest in an electronics manufacturing base or risk an import bill larger than for oil: Sam Pitroda.

"We have lost all of the electronics manufacturing base, whatever little we had.

If we're not careful, in the next 10-15 years - it could be more than oil."

Services Sector Drain on Forex Reserves!

Much touted services sector does not compensate for not having a robust manufacturing sectorIt comprises 55% of GDP but only 35% of total exports.Except for IT and healthcare, India has not reached the controlling heights in the services sector.Banking, tourism, higher education net drain (does not have to be like this)

No excuses please!

No embargoes are preventing us from meeting our requirements. IMTMA report.

Result

This import dependence is harming Indian national welfare and national security.

Senior Officer has quipped India is not even a banana republic, it is a khareedna republic!

Rupee fall. And yet domestic investment flees.

Michael Porters Paradigm - 1990

Proof that a competitive sector can weather the recessionary storm is the report that Indian automobile exports grew 30% during April-October 2011 http://www.indiabiznews.com/?q=node/2121

ORIGINAL SIN!

We did not promote manufacturing

Licence Raj never fully lifted

Why does China have US$ 3 trillion in forex reserves?

China (1978-1997) created an economic juggernaut based on a solid manufacturing base. As a result of its development strategy, China has raced ahead of India.Indias first phase not only started 13 years later, but also witnessed the launching of only the easy reforms between 1991-93. The current economic slowdown and whittling down of the manufacturing sector in India can be attributed to the neglect of core sector reforms, something China tackled early on, with a host of repercussions for sustained growth in many sectors.Smita Purushottam, Harvard paper, 2001Can India Overtake China?

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Time to go beyond the consumption driven, services sector led model of development.

High growth in Indias services sector and consumption-led economy translates into gains mostly for foreign manufacturers and education providers.

National Manufacturing Policy

So, Chinese model has a lot to teach us!

China got it right on Manufacturing SectorChina is getting it right on technologyOnly manufacturing sector supports high-techtinkering, innovation of all kinds

Chinas Futuristic Strategy2050 Plan reads like a sci-fi documentChina will invest 1.1 trillion (10 trillion yuan) in strategic sectors over the coming five years - alternative energy, biotechnology, new-generation information technology, high-end equipment manufacturing, advanced materials, alternative-fuel cars and energy-saving and environmentally friendly technologies.

INDIA

Imperative to have autonomous technological capabilities.

Urgent need for High Tech Strategy.

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Further neglect would be another Blunder of Himalayan Proportions - senior MOD official

3 OPENINGS TO BUILD INDIGENOUS HIGH TECHNOLOGY DEFENCE INNOVATION BASE

Offset opportunity and spate of defence equipment orders.Defence Production and Defence Procurement reforms in 2011. Easing of restrictions on technology transfers by US on Indian entities, followed by other Western countries, reflecting changing geostrategic realities.

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LESSONS FOR INDIA BASIC PRINCIPLES

Apply India First! to all policies Offsets, manufacturing, TOT, FDI, tariffsImpart greater dynamism to economic reform and grow the manufacturing sector.Go for reverse engineering on war footing: China has not suffered consequences because of the attractions of its growing market.But protect IPR.

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Civil military integration - sophisticated defence economy cannot thrive without sophisticated economy-wide supply chain.(Implications for Offset Policy: indirect/direct increase in scope etc.)

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Prof. Tai Ming CheungFoundations of Innov. Eco-Syst.

Reverse Engineering different stagesCivil Military Integration and the 16 character policyDistinction between Hard & Soft Capabilities (corporatisation of defence industry and research institutions)Restructuring and re-engineering GovernmentLast but not least Leadership to ensure Departments follow single minded goal and work together

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THE FORUM ON HIGH-TECH DEF INNOVATIONPROPOSES A

VISION FOR AN INTEGRATED SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENT STRATEGY

VISTAS!

Make development of a high-tech innovation eco-system a national priority.

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Provide political leadership at the highest level for VISTAS.

Establish a National Technology Advisory Council (NTAC) including apex representatives of all stakeholders (incl. industry, academia and research) directly under the Prime Minister to monitor VISTAS.

No new department to be created.

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Technological Autonomy (Not autarky)A matter of national pride!Same commitment and leadership in building Atom Bomb, Delhi Metro required.

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DG ACQUISITIONSDIRECTORATES OF INDIGENISATIOMNIDS HQDOFA

DODPNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COUNCILPMCSIRDRDOARMED FORCESINDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONSMOC/MEA/DSTIITs/ENG.*

Declare a Defence Industrialisation Strategy

One document instead of bulky DPP covering Acquisitions, Offsets, exports, manufacturing, FDI and ToT policies for indigenous technological development.

In it, prioritise Indian industry in defence acquisitions.

Designate Indian firms or consortia as lead integrators.

Introduce modern management in Public Sector Units , DPSUs and research institutes.

Corporatise/privatise PSUs and research institutes and make them more market oriented.

Explore all strategies for development of technology including acquisitions of foreign technology firms.

Promote defence exports to expand markets.

Promote reverse engineering.

Chinas APE Strategy

ASSIMILATE/ABSORBA

PRODUCEP

EXPORTE*

Copying is Official Policy!

Official Guidelines for the Medium- and Long-Term National Science and Technology [S&T] Development Programme (2006-2020) PRC State Council:

Enhance the Absorption, Assimilation, and Re-Innovation of Imported Technologies

Reverse Engineering No shame in it everyones been there, done that.Success of Indias pharmaceutical sector, now a target of foreign acquisitions, is due to reverse engineering.Why have we allowed a liberal acquisitions regime in the pharma sector?Different stages corresponding to the level of sophistication attained by an economy. Prof. Tai Ming Cheung has lucidly categorised these stages as - duplicative imitation; creative imitation; creative adaptation and/or incremental innovation; architectural innovation (which China has reached); component innovation and radical/ disruptive innovation. Cox Committee Report/ Richard Fisher / Russian military press

West up in arms!

REVERSE ENGINEERINGTHEFT ON A SCALE UNSEEN BEFORE: US COC

SMEs

Reform regulatory environment in the brick and mortar space make their life easier.

Create industrial parks with common infrastructure.*

INCREASE R & D SPENDING ACROSS GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY

Indias R & D expenditure should be doubled to 1.75% of GDP by 2015 and 2.5% by 2025.

Chinas aim 2.5% in 2020.

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INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTION

Industry should contribute an increasing proportion of R & D expenditure with 5% of revenues for large scale industry and 3% for SMEs.

International example: 60-65% R & D funding internationally comes from corporate sector.

HIGH TIME SERVICES SECTOR ALSO CONTRIBUTED

The service sector especially in telecommunications and aerospace should invest in indigenous technology and manufacturing capabilities.

Only IT sector has contributed to R & D.

Telecom Policy 1999!

OFFSETS

Formulate model National Offsets Policy.Declare aim of offsets policy is to promote indigenous manufacture, technology and innovation.Set up Offsets Agencies in sectors depending on huge imports such as telecommunications, aerospace, railways, IT, etc.

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Raise defence offset obligations to 100%:

While 30% should continue to be reserved for defence production, 70% can be invested in high-tech sectors such as aerospace, telecommunications, railways, composites, engines, machine tools, electronics hardware, etc. This would create a dual use manufacturing base benefiting defence sector, the philosophy behind civil and military integration (CMI).

International experience

Europe: Over 100% Offsets is commonGripen SAAB just offered 100-120% offsets to Czech Republic and CroatiaTurkish offset policy: maximise local involvement at 70%; 15% - SMEsNo minimum threshold was only US$10 m to begin withChinese offsets: growth of indigenous civil aviation sector

OTHER EXAMPLES WE CAN LEARN FROM

The Israeli Industrial Co-operation Authority handles offsets with long term goal of promoting indigenous technological upgradation. Israel spends 3% of GDP on R&D

SOUTH KOREAN SYNERGIES

Launched agency to boost indigenous defence industry and expand exports to become top military exporter.The Defense Industry Development Council (DIDC) is co-chaired by the South Korean Ministry of National Defense (MND) and the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MNE).Also to plan R & D activities, training and skills programmes as well as defence offset, including technology acquisition.DIDC will also co-operate with Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) (for offsets), Korea Defense Industry Association and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency.

Coincidentally our recommendation was to:Create a combined Defence Industry Development Council from MOD departments/ agencies like Defence Acquisitions, DoDP, IDS HQ, DOFA and DRDO, associating the Ministries of External Affairs, Defence, and Commerce and Industry - to implement a coordinated technology indigenisation policy by leveraging all means at a States disposal including leveraging market access for indigenization.Eventually, re-engineer Government organisations and processes by merging or dynamically linking departments in charge of acquisitions, production, indigenisation, R&D, ToT, FDI with TOT provisions, manufacturing and exports - to create synchronised entities focusing on promoting indigenous high technology.

FDI IN DEFENCE

Take advantage of Western interest in defence collaboration.Lift FDI cap so that manufacturing facilities are set up in India.

A calibrated tariff policy to protect indigenous including FDI manufacture, resisting pressure for tariff reductions under multilateral trading arrangements should be instituted. Med. Devices.Host country policies should mandate transfer of technology and phased indigenous sourcing obligations, as China has done.Monitoring of indigenisation/ local sourcing and production targets must be ensured if the FDI ceiling is raised.

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Inter-ministerial coordination between the Ministries of External Affairs, Defence, and Commerce and Industry - to leverage market access for technology transfers must be established under the NTAC.(China aerospace example)

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R & D

Best practices of MNC R & D centres should be studied

Simple solutions: promotion and incentive systems in R & D Institutes and academic institutions should be based on the marketability of product and patents acquired.

DRDO and CSIR to focus on fundamental research and accelerate outsourcing of technologies for production to private sector.

Govt. R & D labs allowed to generate own income and be corporatised where necessary.

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Information & Transparency

Ensure transparency in awarding Government contracts. Every Government Department / private or public sector company should carry on its website a list of:(a) Projects to be awarded for indigenisation and (b) Items imported from abroad. Names of proactive departments and officials charged with indigenisation with full contact details. Declassification of important reports like the Kelkar Committee report, greater consultation with entities outside Govt. and data access is imperative.

Copycats dont catch mice!

While it Does not Matter What Colour the Cat is, Copycats Certainly Dont Catch Mice!Smita Purushottam, 2002

Conclusion

India has to overcome the hesitant, piece-meal and turf-led approach to defence industrialization and innovation if it wishes to catch up with the worlds technological leaders. Without the above reforms and changes, India will be unable to take its place as an advanced technological nation which will affect its standing, autonomy in conducting foreign policy, but most importantly, affect the overall welfare of its citizens. NSA has stated this in a speech.It is recommended that Government consider these suggestions and take appropriate measures to launch a high-tech science and technological revolution in India.

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JAI HIND!NAMASKAAR!*