Navigating Tech and National Security

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). India’s biggest push yet to fund science, research, and deep tech.

Shiv explains why India needs to build its own technologies instead of only buying them, and how ANRF will unlock ₹50,000 crore in research grants and ₹1 lakh crore in patient capital to power innovation.

They talk about:

- How research moves from a basic idea to real products.- Why India spends less on R&D than other nations and how that can change.

- How startups, industry, and researchers can work with ANRF.

- The big focus areas: AI, medical tech, EVs, quantum, biotech, energy, and more.

Shiv also shares his own journey from researcher to industry leader with 75+ patents, and now stepping into government to shape India’s research future.

If you’re curious about India’s innovation story and where the next big breakthroughs will come from, this conversation is a must-watch.