eGovWatch: 5 key takeaways of ‘Electronics in Security and IoT’ conference

The main objective of the conference was how SMEs can be encouraged to take up manufacturing of safety electronics as it would not only boost electronics manufacturing in India but also be a major source of employment in rural India.

PHD Chamber in association with Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DEITY), Ministry of Communications and IT organized a conference on ‘Electronics in Security and IoT’ recently in New Delhi.

The main objective of the Conference was how small and medium enterprises can be encouraged to take up manufacturing of safety electronics as it would not only boost electronics manufacturing in India but also be a major source of employment in rural India. Also the Conference discussed how startups in India which are growing at a brisk rate can take the concept of Internet of Things (IoT) forward and include more applications.

The Conference was presided over by  N K Mohapatra, CEO, Electronics Sector Skill Council of India (ESSCI);  Pankaj Mohindroo, National President, Indian Cellular Association (ICA); G B Singh, Group Editor, Security Today magazine and  Avinash Sinha, Design Expert,Mecops India Private Limited.

Mergers and aquisitons for IoT

R P Jhalani, Chairman, Committee on Electronics and Engineering Goods, PHD Chamber, while delivering the welcome address emphasized on India’s Electronics Industry. He said that the electronics industry today has become extremely vital and a key driver for India’s economic growth. He apprised the delegates of the current scenario of Indian Electronics Industry which stood at US$ 69.6 billion in the year 2012 which is 3.5% of the global electronics market. It is expected to reach US $400 Billion by year 2020.

He also said that the India Video Surveillance market is expected to reach $952.94 million by 2016, with a CAGR of 32.49 percent from 2011-2016. He mentioned that with the high-success rate of CCTV surveillance devices worldwide, security conscious organizations (both government and non-government) in India are implementing CCTV surveillance, reflecting an annual expected growth rate of more than 20 percent.

He mentioned that Global IoT market is going to get bigger in the coming years and is likely to be touch $7-trillion mark globally by 2020, according to the International Data Corporation. Firms are resorting to mergers and acquisitions and coming up with new ideas for IoT.

ESSCI to skill 2 million people

N K Mohapatra, CEO, ESSCI emphasised on the importance of skilling the youth of India which are growing at a rapid rate, while addressing the Conference. He said that productivity of the youth is a must to ensure quality manufacturing.

Mohapatra said that India must take cue from countries like Israel which were focussing on increasing the productivity of their manpower rather than just increasing the employment no.s.He further added that demand today is coming not in the existing job roles but in the newer job roles which includes safety and security electronics as well as Internet of Things (IoT).

He pointed out that the employee growth rate in the electronics sector during last 5 years has been healthy growing at 10 %.He further added that among the sub sectors of electronics, strategic electronics is growing at a maximum 22% and generating employment to more than 65000 people which is an encouraging sign for the industry in India.

ESSCI aims to skill 2 million people on a cumulative basis, told Mohapatra.

India to export to China in 2 years

Pankaj Mohindroo, National President, Indian Cellular Association (ICA) gave his address on importance of mobile with respect to Internet of Things (IoT). He said that mobile phone industry grew at 32% and crossed Rs 1 lakh crore and this figure would reach Rs 3 Lakh crore by 2019. In his address he mentioned that Internet of Things (IoT) is an extension of mobile phone design ecosystem. He said that mobile phones would be at the heart of IoT ecosystem as all devices would be connected through a smartphone.

Mohindroo said that India must focus on producing mobile hardware designers to boost electronics manufacturing. He said that India had made great strides in producing large no. of mobile software designers but an equal focus must be on producing quality mobile hardware designers.

Mohindroo said that in order to boost the industry, safety and electronics equipment manufacturers must set up and invest in the Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs) under the provisions and regulations set up by DEITY.He added that investment in EMC would lead to design innovation as well as boosting employment.

He also said that with the humungous growth witnessed by India in the mobile phone industry, in the coming 2 years India would start exporting components like mobile chargers, battery banks to China which would a major accomplishment as China is a powerhouse in electronic component manufacturing.

Rising imports, threat to safety and security

G B Singh, Editor, Security Today Magazine said that in the global electronic security systems industry, CCTVs constitute 55% with a market size of $550 million. He also mentioned that there was a rising interest in India when it comes to CCTV manufacturing due to interest from private sector.

Singh expressed concern about the rising imports in the safety and security electronics from USA, UK, China, Israel, Germany and Singapore.

However he appreciated DEITY’s initiative to include CCTVs and Surveillance Cameras in the list of products under the Preferential Market Access (PMA) as its ‘50% local manufactured’ clause would boost domestic manufacturing

IoT to boost productivity

Avinash Sinha, Design Expert, Mecops India Private Limited emphasized on the design and architecture of Internet of Things (IoT). He said that the Internet of Things (IoT) architecture is very effective and convenient as it minimizes the physical interaction.He  said that IoT would help in better utilization of company resources in a more productive manner.