India as a Software Superpower

The analytical skills of Indians are finally being recognized from the
phenomenal contributions they are making in the area of IT. It is not only the
cost but Indian analytical thinking that is attracting some of the world's
largest IT corporations to open research and development centers in India.

But is this enough for India to emerge as a Software Superpower? With chances
of other countries replicating our software services model and beating us in
terms of costs and skills, we need to work hard to achieve an unassailable
position in the world of IT. It will come through innovation and by creation of
intellectual wealth measured by the number of registered patents filed in this
country. Although, the number of patents filed from India went up to 1,216 in FY
2004 from 848 the year before, the figure is extremely small, even compared to
the number of patents filed in much smaller countries. India, therefore, needs
to increase its efforts in proposing new computing paradigms and breakthrough
ideas in software engineering and technology which the world will follow.

With chances of other countries replicating our software services model and beating us in terms of costs and skills, we need to work hard to achieve an unassailable position in the world of IT

Today, two types of IT organizations are operating in India. One, the
multinationals who are making heavy investments in building up their India
Development Centers—IBM, Microsoft, Bell Labs, Oracle, SAP, Computer
Associates, HP etc. (A Dataquest survey reveals that 91% of total patents filed
out of India are from MNC development centers.) The other group of IT companies
(incorporated in India and managed by Indians)-TCS, Wipro, Infosys, HCL,
Satyam etc-are operating as profit centers by offering software services to
global clients.

The present examination system, up to the college level, encourages
conventional thinking and even in the engineering college level, most of the
institutes do not place great emphasis on practical application of the
theoretical concepts. The system needs to be revamped.

The professional societies can catalyze the generation of intellectual
capital by encouraging formation of student chapters. Travel grants can be given
to students to travel abroad, which can be sponsored by IT corporate houses.
Professional interactions with experienced professionals will enable the
students to get an idea about the advanced R&D work being done in different
parts of the world and help in shaping their thoughts.

The IT industry has a big role to play and needs sufficient funds for
R&D. Indian IT companies have to take on their rolls scientists and
academicians of brilliance and nurture their intellectual growth as is being
done in India by GE, IBM etc.

Even if innovative work is done in this country, it will go waste if the
ideas are not transformed to marketable products. Presence in the technical
committees of the international standardization bodies (like ISO, IEEE, SEI etc)
is extremely important. This undoubtedly requires lot of international
networking and lobbying but attempts have to be made. This has to be led by
captains of Indian software companies.

In conclusion, it can be stated that there is no doubt that in the area of IT
Indians have already proved their capability and can make a world of difference
as it matches well with our analytical thinking. We only need to facilitate our
young minds to think differently and build an environment conducive to
innovation. While our political leaders are talking about India emerging as a
Software Superpower and our corporate leaders are dreaming about it, lots of
work needs to be done for converting this dream into a reality.

Dr Anirban Basu Director,
Quality