India’s IoT adoption booming, says Samsung Vice President, Samsung India R&D

India is witnessing a rapid rise in the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT)-based connected devices, with uptake growing at an estimated 30 per cent, driven primarily by a young and tech-savvy population, a senior Samsung India official said on Wednesday.

The Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to a network of physical devices that are connected to the internet and can collect, share, and act on data. Examples of such IoT devices include smart refrigerators, wearable fitness trackers, connected lighting systems, smart air conditioners, and home security cameras. These devices enhance convenience, efficiency, and automation in daily life.

Amit Kumar Jaiswal, Vice President of Samsung India R&D, highlighted the substantial contributions of Indian research and development teams to global innovations, including Samsung’s recently unveiled ‘AI Home’ concept. AI Home is a connected, intuitive living space that integrates intelligence across smart appliances, devices, and services. It aims to simplify daily routines by enabling appliances to communicate and respond proactively to user needs for example, adjusting lighting, temperature, and entertainment options automatically based on user preferences and usage patterns.

“India being a young, tech-savvy nation…you’ll be surprised at the Internet of Things acceptance levels in India. If I talk about smart systems, we are third in the world, much ahead of so many other tech-savvy countries, which means our population is keen on adopting these innovations,” Jaiswal said.

Currently, India ranks third globally in smart devices’ adoption after the United States and Brazil. However, the country is projected to soon move to the second position in terms of adoption pace. “Very soon we’ll be number two. Our adoption is rising at the rate of almost 30 per cent for these kinds of devices,” he added.

Jaiswal declined to comment on specific figures related to the Indian market or the addressable base for Samsung products.

Samsung operates three R&D centres in India, focusing on AI and IoT innovations. Jaiswal noted the substantial contributions of these centres to the development of Samsung AI and IoT technologies globally. “Absolutely, a lot of work has been done in India,” he said.

Globally, Samsung maintains around 30 R&D centres, with the largest share located in India, with Samsung R&D Institute India-Bengaluru (SRI-B) being the biggest. The three major Indian centres employ nearly 10,000 engineers. “This is the only country where Samsung has three large R&D centres…we saw today that in each of them, there is work being done for global products,” he said.

The Indian R&D teams have contributed significantly to Galaxy AI, Vision AI, Bespoke AI, AI Home, and other IoT-enabled innovations. “There is a huge contribution from the India team, and that is not just for the Indian market, it is for the world,” Jaiswal added.

Samsung’s initiatives underline India’s growing prominence as a hub for technological innovation, particularly in AI and IoT-based connected devices, reflecting both the capacity of local engineers and the country’s expanding consumer base for smart technologies.