Logo of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland | Photo Credit: Reuters
In an era defined by evolution, India is at the forefront as one of the world’s fastest growing economies and a global hub for digital startups and innovation, the World Economic Forum said on Monday (January 20, 2025).
The Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) India, the liaison office of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in India, presented its 6-year impact report on the first day of the 2025 WEF annual meeting.
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WEF said its relationship with India dates back more than 40 years.
Over the past four decades, this partnership has developed into a strong, multifaceted and meaningful collaboration with the national government, several regional governments, business leaders in all key industries and other key stakeholders, including civil society and leading experts, resulting in several impactful programs and significant improvements shared.
India’s advocacy and pursuit of development models where technology acts as a bridge rather than a barrier is paramount and the Forum is proud to work as a partner in shaping a human-centred, planet-friendly and sustainable future, the report said.
The Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) India was launched in 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a statement of the country’s commitment to use emerging technologies responsibly and inclusively for the benefit of society.
Today, C4IR India is not just a hub of innovation; is a leading institution of the World Economic Forum, exemplifying the vision of technology-driven development and impactful results, the Forum said.
As C4IR India enters the next phase of its journey, the new report highlighted the milestones and underscored the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in leveraging technology to address complex development challenges.
C4IR India said its achievements include AI-driven agriculture systems that improve farmers’ incomes, healthcare solutions that provide access to life-saving services, and sustainable urban development frameworks that improve the quality of life in cities.
These programs have been made successful through strong collaboration among all public and private sectors, academics, and civil society organizations, with a focus on creating practical solutions based on good governance, it added.
“Over the past six years, C4IR India has emerged as a key hub for multi-stakeholder collaboration and has improved the lives of 1.25 million citizens through improved livelihoods and better access to healthcare. The center has advanced Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies across agriculture, healthcare and aviation , setting a benchmark for the progress of the revolution As C4IR India continues to grow, it is now focusing on such as AI, weather technology, and climate tech. technologies that have exciting potential to create lasting value for society,” said Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director, World Economic Forum.
S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in India, said, “Our collaboration with the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in India is focused on developing a multi-stakeholder community to implement the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on key challenges in health, education, smart cities and agriculture AI for India 2030 is a key initiative in partnership with MeitY, enabling stakeholders across industries and startups to partner with governments to realize the potential of AI.”
As India continues its rapid economic growth and strengthens its position as a global hub for digital innovation, C4IR India aims to reach 10 million citizens by expanding its flagship programs and upcoming projects.
These include the AI ​​India 2030 plan, which aims to unlock the potential of AI for the benefit of society, the Space Economy plan, which aims to position India as a leader in space technology, and the Climate Technology plan, which will focus on developing a smart urban environment. institutions.
Additionally, the AVIATE India program will explore the future of air travel to reduce urban congestion and improve rural connectivity.
Published – January 20, 2025 05:10 pm IST