A new global index has been launched to assess how 25 countries perform across five technology sectors: AI, biotechnology, semiconductors, space, and quantum. India lags significantly behind the top three — U.S., China, and Europe — across most technology sectors.
Developed using public and commercial data, the Critical and Emerging Technologies Index allows policymakers to explore each country’s relative strengths and weaknesses across these sectors.
To reflect strategic importance, the sectors were assigned default weights: semiconductors (35%), AI (25%), biotechnology (20%), space (15%), and quantum (5%). These were based on six criteria, such as geopolitical relevance and dual-use potential. The chart shows the overall index scores of all the countries. India with a score of 15.2 is below France and above Russia, Canada and Australia.
The U.S. leads in all five sectors, powered by deep investments, a strong research workforce, and a decentralised innovation ecosystem spanning government, academia, and industry. Its dominance is most pronounced in AI, semiconductors, and space.
China is closing the gap, especially in biotechnology and quantum. China is backed by centralised planning, scale, and state-led investments. It still lags in semiconductors and advanced AI due to dependence on foreign tools and weaker private research.
Europe ranks third overall, showing strength in biotech and quantum but falling behind in semiconductors and space.
U.S. partnerships with Europe, Japan, and South Korea enhance its position, particularly in quantum and chips. However, no country has full control over the semiconductor supply chain. While the U.S. holds a clear lead in AI, China’s advantage in data and talent, along with model breakthroughs, signals a tightening race.
The chart also shows the individual scores of each country in these sectors. The AI analysis is based on eight pillars, with the highest weight given to funding and talent. Technical factors such as algorithms, computing power, and data also play a key role, while regulation and global influence are included with lower weight. The U.S. leads this by a huge margin, followed by China and Europe.
The biotechnology analysis is based on nine pillars, with the highest weight given to human capital, funding, and core capabilities such as pharmaceutical production, genetic engineering, and vaccine research.
The semiconductor analysis uses eight pillars, with the highest weight given to chip design, funding, talent, and manufacturing. Other factors such as equipment, materials, and regulations are weighted lower as they play supporting roles. Taiwan, Japan and South Korea rank higher than Europe in this indicator.
The space analysis is based on 10 pillars, with the highest weight given to funding, talent, and defence assets. Key operational areas such as launch capability, navigation, and telecom are weighted slightly lower, while global influence and regulation receive the least weight. Russia is placed third in this indicator, and India seventh.
The quantum analysis uses eight pillars, with the highest weight given to funding, talent, and core technologies. Policy, global influence, and security are weighted lower.
The data for the chart was sourced from the ‘Critical and Emerging Technologies Index’ published by the Harvard Kennedy School – Belfer Centre for Science and International Affairs
Published – June 25, 2025 07:00 am IST