Practical Aspects of Technology and Innovation Capability Building: Learning from the Case of Mechatronics Lab

Technology and innovation capabilities are becoming important as Indian organizations and firms prepare for next level of international competitiveness. Emerging technologies such as Mechatronics can be a growth engine for many firms as well as a country if international competitiveness is achieved and sustained. Our ongoing research on technology and innovation management and their role in competitiveness has thrown light on some key dimensions of the concepts and problems in India. Drawing on exposure to grassroots in India as well as the most sophisticated technological contexts such as Europe, Japan and the North America provides interesting insights into differences between India and other countries on key dimensions and gaps for India. Experimentation, research and consulting have provided glimpse of opportunities and challenges. Learning from the case study of “Mechatronics Laboratory”, IIT Delhi are synthesized here and generalized to draw implications for professionals and organizations. The focus here is on technology capability building. Consistent support from industry and other achievements are indicative of the capabilities of the lab. The drivers of the success can be traced to sound people and technology management being experimented and practiced by the team at lab. This case study may provide ideas to many budding laboratories, firms and organizations working in such emerging industries to think about technology or innovation capabilities for competitiveness.