‘’Indian innovation – Stay the course’’

Nick Mitchell

The 21st century is India’s to own when it comes to the development of new technologies. From its roots in innovation in the IT sector now more than 20 years strong, to today’s developments across all of the high technology platforms in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, India is proving that when it comes to science and technology it’s leading the way.

Let India forget not those that have helped along the journey to reach this impressive milestone. Do so not only with fond recollection, but with a call to action to take responsibility as an aggregate whole to become the world’s next largest innovator nation. The world’s multinational pharma and biotech firms such as Astra-Zeneca, Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, Pfizer, and plenty of others have given the global players of today a roadmap to follow and the owner’s manual for the vehicles that are ready to drive innovation to an entire new level.

How many accomplished researchers and business professionals alike reading this article spent time abroad in the west to obtain a world class education in the 1980’s, the 1990’s, and the first decade of the 21st century? Indian expatriates were attending schools like Oxford, Harvard, Cambridge, Stanford, and MIT, in cities like Paris in France, Manchester and London in the United Kingdom, and Boston and San Francisco in the US, to name a few. These expatriates were learning so much more than what the coursework provided as their foundation for becoming a steward of innovation. When not studying or attending classes, your fellow Indians abroad were exploring these great cities and these great nations and learning about proper infrastructure, organised systems, and economic development assisted by local, state, and federal governments. They were exposed to urban philanthropy at its finest, and many didn’t just observe from the sidelines, they became involved.

Many of these expatriates are returning home to India today. And, as they are returning, they are discovering that India was not fast asleep while they were gone, au contraire, India has gone through many more changes in the time the NRI’s and PIO’s were abroad. These changes have been brought about by fellow countrymen and women that have been at home engaging in India’s progressive development in concert with their expatriate brothers and sisters. They have been nurturing the tremendously growing Indian population and preparing them for this exact moment in history where greatness is possible!

And to look outside of this wonderful nation, only for a moment to glance at the “brothers and sisters” of our global family that are also growing, we have to give strong consideration to our relations labeled so closely to us as our “BRIC” relatives. Each of these nations; Brazil, Russia, and China, are making incredible strides in their own right. China continues to modernise its modern urban centers, Russia continues to educate its scientists and engineers with vigour at home, and Brazil enjoys the abundance of its natural resources similar to India, but with the compliment of large amounts of fossil fuels at its disposal as well.

The best celebrations are those that are based on incredible accomplishments. When we think of the Olympic Summer Games that were held in London earlier this year, we see a nation that acts like a proud parent, dare I suggest a proud “grandparent” to the global community. During the 1940’s and 50’s this great nation was the west’s strongest and proudest parent nation, and the US took charge as one of its evolving descendants to grow up not in their shadow, but in their legacy. Today, it is time for India to do the same. Of course, India comes to the global stage with an incredible development of its own over a far longer time span than both of the nations it now takes the baton from to run the next leg of the race. It is this beautiful integration of the patiently developing land of the Sun with the high-paced nations of the west that will surely offer India the challenge of further understanding your responsibility as India become a strong and proud parental role model for new rising nations like Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and many others throughout Africa that will possibly take the baton from India in centuries ahead.

There are many nations coming to agreement everyday on how to work with one another to promote the progress of innovation. Foreign direct investment across the high technology sectors, open immigration policies and a concerted effort to infuse the thought-leaders and international scholars with those here in India to create incredible global achievements within the academic community are all ways in which India can collaborate at the same time it strives to compete. This proud nation that continuously celebrates its individuality must also continue to learn new ways to join forces with its international brothers and sisters on the world stage.

I personally have had the pleasure of being mentored over the last 15 years by a gentleman that has lived his life on the world stage. Born in Iran years ago, Fasha Mahjoor in his early teenage years had the opportunity to immigrate to England and attend secondary school and university in this wonderful nation just a decade or two after it had passed the baton to the US to become the world’s largest economic superpower. After completing his formative years of education and development in England, Fasha moved to the West Coast of the US and settled in the city of angels, Los Angeles, California. Over the last 15 years, I have watched Fasha continue to understand the global community better than most and three to four years ago when he decided to concentrate his efforts on India, I knew once again he was making another great decision.

Phenomenex India is honoured to be a part of the life sciences landscape here in Hyderabad, India and we look forward to many years of watching India’s long term success. Best wishes in your journey and it is a pleasure to be here with you. Assume your position graciously, and continue to stay the course.

Nick Mitchell is part of the management team of Phenomenex India. He has been travelling to India on behalf of Phenomenex for almost 10 years, and is now is settled with his family in Hyderabad, India to further develop Indian operations for the US-based MNC.