India, July 5 -- India's aspirations to become a global technology powerhouse will depend not only on investments in artificial intelligence (AI), digital infrastructure, and research but also on its willingness to trust young innovators, according to Prof. S. Sadagopan, Founder Director, IIIT Bangalore.

Speaking during the CyberMedia Awards Night 2026, Prof. S. Sadagopan said India's education ecosystem and technology industry must move beyond conventional assumptions about age and experience. Instead, institutions should create environments where students are encouraged to experiment, learn independently, and contribute to real-world innovation much earlier in their academic journey.

Drawing from an example of a first-year IIIT Bangal...