National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems | 17 Aug 2022

For Prelims: Cyber-Physical Systems, Technology Innovation Hubs, SMART Cities, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

For mains: Objectives and Significance of National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems.

Why in News?

Recently, the Ministry of Science and Technology has organised a workshop to discuss joint research projects under NM-ICPS (National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems).

  • A total of 35 joint projects have been identified which will be implemented by TIHs (Technology Innovation Hubs) and research institutions from the USA.
  • This endeavour will help achieve collaborative research and development between the two countries in the area of CPS (Cyber-Physical Systems).

What are Cyber-Physical Systems?

  • About:
    • Cyber-physical systems integrate sensing, computation, control and networking into physical objects and infrastructure, connecting them to the Internet and to each other.
  • Applications:
    • Driverless cars that communicate securely with each other on smart roads,
    • Sensors in the home to detect changing health conditions
    • Improving agricultural practices and enabling scientists to address issues arising out of climate change, etc.
  • Significance:
    • Advances in cyber-physical systems will enable capability, adaptability, scalability, resiliency, safety, security and usability that will far exceed the simple embedded systems of today.

What is National Mission-Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems?

  • About:
    • It was launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Science and Technology with an outlay of Rs. 3,660.00 crore for a period of five years to encourage innovation in new age technologies.
    • It covers the entire India which includes Central Ministries, State Governments, Industry and Academia.
  • Objectives:
    • The NM-ICPS is a comprehensive Mission which would address technology development, application development, human resource development & skill enhancement, entrepreneurship and start-up development in Cyber Physical System (CPS) and associated technologies.
    • The Mission aims at the establishment of 15 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIH), six Application Innovation Hubs (AIH) and four Technology Translation Research Parks (TTRP).
    • These Hubs & TTRPs will connect to Academics, Industry, Central Ministries and State Government in developing solutions at reputed academic, R&D and other organizations across the country in a hub and spoke model.
    • The Hubs & TTRPs have four focused areas along which the Mission implementation would proceed, namely:
      • Technology Development,
      • HRD & Skill Development,
      • Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Start-ups Ecosystem Development, and
      • International Collaborations.
  • Significance:
    • CPS technologies provide a cutting edge to a Nation's scientific, engineering, and technologically innovative capabilities, support other missions of the government, provide industrial and economic competitiveness and have truly become a Strategic Resource.
    • The Mission can act as an engine of growth that would benefit national initiatives in health, education, energy, environment, agriculture, strategic cum security, and industrial sectors, Industry 4.0, SMART Cities, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) etc.
    • CPS is an integrated system of upcoming technology, which in turn is being taken up on priority basis by countries in the race for development. CPS will indeed bring a paradigm shift in entire skill sets requirements.
    • The job opportunities will be enhanced through the Mission by imparting advanced skills and generating skilled manpower as per the requirement of the industry/ society.

Source: PIB