Background
Our Modern lives are significantly impacted by Innovative products and services featuring value-added functions through integration of electronics, optics, and mechanics in micro and nanodimensions. These products called “hardwares” represent innovations in multi-disciplinary silicon-based sciences and technologies. The “services” primarily came from the innovative developments and applications of “softwares”, enabling the intelligent applications of the hardwares. These products and services are being pervasively applied today in nearly all aspects of human endeavors including communication, information processing, health, imaging, renewable energy, transportation etc. This accounts for nearly a quarter of global productivity today.
In this backdrop, this planet earth has been facing crisis in sustainability due to rapid growth of human population, deforestation, increasing applications of fossil fuel for energy etc. causing global warming with catastrophic consequences. Consequently, we face depletion of life forces such as oxygen, ozone layer, potable water, and many species, vital for food chain.
Yet, a newer form of multi-disciplinary science and technology is beginning to emerge which holds great promise to address the sustainability crisis. This emerging form integrates: Artificial Intelligence [AI] with recently invented 2D semiconductor materials & devices, combined with or without conventional silicon-based hardwares, all integrated over Flexible substrates. Such framework provides sensor-based smart platforms with innovative applications to address the global and local sustainability issues.
This new technology frontier will account for greater global productivity in forth coming decades. Innovative, products and services, as above, will be essential in addressing all aspects of sustainability. India needs to engage vigorously its vast young talents to develop and create entrepreneurships towards such products and services to attain global leadership and prosperity.