The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), in association with the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DEITY) organised a conference called ‘Electronics in Security and IoT’ in New Delhi on December 4. The aim of the conference was to discuss how to encourage SMEs to manufacture safety electronics to boost manufacturing in India and become a major source of employment in rural India. The conference also discussed how Indian startups can take the concept of Internet of Things (IoT) forward. It was presided by a number of eminent panelists and was attended by a large number of delegates which included diplomats, electronic component manufacturers, IT companies and more.
R.P Jhalani, Chairman, Committee on Electronics and Engineering Goods emphasised the importance of the electronics industry in India’s economic growth during his welcome address. He added that in 2012, the Indian electronics industry stood at $69.6 billion and is expected to reach $400 billion by 2020. Jhalani said that the global IoT market is going to get bigger and may touch $7 trillion globally by 2020 as per data by the International Data Corporation (IDC). He also added that firms were resorting to mergers and acquisitions and are coming up with new ideas for IoT. N.K Mohapatra, CEO, Electronics Sector Skill Council of India (ESSCI), said that the demand is not in existing jobs, but newer jobs which include safety and electronics along with IoT.
Pankaj Mohindroo, National President, Indian Cellular Association (ICA) talked about the importance of mobile with respect to IoT. During his address, he says that IoT is an extension of the mobile design ecosystem and that mobile devices would be at the heart of an IoT ecosystem as all devices would be connected through it. Mohindroo also said that India needs to focus on producing mobile hardware designers to boost electronics manufacturing. He added that while the country has produced a large number of mobile software designers, equal emphasis must be placed on producing quality mobile hardware designers. Mohindroo went on to say that due to the immense growth of the mobile phone industry in India, the country may start exporting electronic components to China in 2 years.
Avinash Sinha, Design Expert, Mecops India Private Limited emphasized on the design of and architecture of IoT which helps to minimise physical interaction. He also said that IoT would ensure a company’s resources are utilised more productively.