Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution India

18-Jan-2023: World Economic Forum (WEF) has chosen Hyderabad, Telangana for establishing its Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR).

Fourth Industrial Revolution

Characterized by technology blurring boundaries between digital, physical, and biological worlds
Driven by data
Key technologies: cloud computing, big data, autonomous robots, cybersecurity, simulation, additive manufacturing, IoT

The C4IR Telangana will be an autonomous, non-profit organisation with a thematic focus on healthcare and life sciences. The term 4IR was coined by Klaus Schwab, executive chairperson of the WEF, in 2016.

Applications of Fourth Industrial Revolution

Pacemaker: monitors vitals, analyses and paces heart, doctors can access information wirelessly
Xenobots: living robots created from stem cells, programmed using AI, can gather stem cells and create new xenobots, useful for cleaning microplastics, regrowing dead cells and tissues
Smart Railway Coaches: fitted with sensors to provide comfortable experience, monitor odour levels, avoid fire outbreaks, prevent unauthorized travel

Challenges Associated with Fourth Industrial Revolution

Job displacement due to automation and AI
Privacy concern due to increasing connectivity and risk of cyber-attacks
Ethical concerns such as accountability, bias, and transparency
Lack of digital infrastructure leading to digital divide and uneven economic growth

History of Industrial Revolutions:

First Industrial Revolution: used water and steam power to mechanize production (example: steam engine)
Second Industrial Revolution: used electric power to create mass production (example: electricity)
Third Industrial Revolution: used electronics and information technology to automate production (example: computer and internet)

2018

12-Oct-2018: World Economic Forum Opens Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution India

India has taken the next step in shaping the future of emerging technology policy with the new Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution India, opened today by the World Economic Forum, the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.

The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution India will work in collaboration with the government on a national level to co-design new policy frameworks and protocols for emerging technology alongside leaders from business, academia, start-ups and international organizations. The National Institute for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog will coordinate the partnership on behalf of the government and the work of the centre among multiple ministries.

“The Fourth Industrial Revolution will change how we produce, how we consume, how we communicate and even how we live”, said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum. “To make the technological progress human centred, we must pro-actively work together and create the necessary essential principles and policy standards to ensure that we use the full potential for better lives. India is becoming a big technological global force and that’s why I am especially proud to announce the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution India.”

National projects: Initial efforts at the national level are focused on two emerging technology areas: Artificial intelligence and machine learning, and blockchain and distributed ledger technology. The first project will focus on expanding access to data to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence to tackle some of the country’s most pressing socio-economic needs, such as education, healthcare and agriculture. The second will focus on the application of smart contracts to boost productivity and transparency while reducing inefficiency.

“India can be a global leader in Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies,” said Amitabh Kant, Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog. “We need to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence and blockchain across the country. Democratizing innovation in the artificial intelligence value chain is critical to leverage its true potential and to build sustainable business models. Similarly, blockchain and smart contracts can transform the ease of doing business in India. Together with the Centre of Fourth Industrial Revolution India, NITI Aayog will conduct pilots to explore use cases that can exploit the advantages of these technologies.”

State projects: The Government of Maharashtra in collaboration with the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution India is planning to undertake a drone mapping operation in the agriculture sector. A multi-stake holder group of government departments, private sector and civil society groups, including farmer organizations, will co-design a data platform where the data can be used, combined with data from other sources, and analysed to increase efficiency and improve crop yields in a way that is responsible and equitable.

“The Government of Maharashtra is partnering with the Centre of Fourth Industrial Revolution India to work on the Agriculture and Drones project,” said Devendra Gangadhar rao Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra. “For the first time, we will undertake a project on drones to collect the data that will enable us to improve crop productivity, crop disease surveillance, agriculture prediction and how to advise farmers on appropriate farming practices. Drones have the potential to revolutionize the agriculture sector. This project will coincide with India’s new drones policy and will showcase how drones can help tackle some of society’s toughest challenges. This model could be scaled across India and globally.”

Projects will be scaled across India and globally. As part of the World Economic Forum’s global network, the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution India will work closely with project teams in San Francisco, Tokyo and Beijing to share findings and accelerate impact.

The world’s top businesses and most visionary governments are working together to build the policies and rules to make a brighter future. A full list of partners and members of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution can be viewed here.

The global network of Centres for the Fourth Industrial Revolution brings together governments, leading companies, civil society and experts from around the world to co-design and pilot innovative approaches to the policy and governance of technology. Its vision is to shape the development and use of technology in ways that maximize the benefits and minimize the risks. The network will develop, implement and scale up agile and human-centred pilot projects that can be adopted by policy-makers, legislators and regulators worldwide.