The Economic Times

Don't just assemble, innovate: The missing hero in India's smartphone success story

India is the world's second-largest mobile phone maker, benefiting from policy support and global supply chain shifts. Domestic firms currently focus on assembly, while design and innovation remain with foreign companies. To become a tech powerhouse, India must enable local firms to create more value. Investment in research and development is crucial for sustained competitiveness and patent creation. This shift will move India from assembly to innovation-driven technology leadership.