Pranav Adani Calls For Greater Investment In Intellectual Infrastructure

Pranav Adani, Director, Adani Enterprises Ltd, said countries such as India should accord the same importance to developing ‘intellectual infrastructure’ as they do to building physical infrastructure. He stressed the need for institutions that can look beyond immediate developments, question established assumptions, identify emerging risks and draw connections across sectors.

According to him, such institutions would be essential for helping societies manage uncertainty and maintain long-term growth.

Speaking at the Foundation Day celebrations of the Chintan Research Foundation (CRF) in New Delhi, Pranav Adani said policymakers are confronting a range of interconnected challenges, including energy security, climate transition, artificial intelligence, demographic change, urbanisation, water stress and geopolitical competition. He further said these issues require a more integrated and long-term approach to decision-making as nations assume larger roles on the global stage.

The event convened policymakers, diplomats, industry leaders, academics and researchers to examine the increasing role of ideas, institutions and long-term strategic thinking.

Discussions focused on navigating rapid technological advances, geopolitical shifts, climate-related challenges and ongoing economic transformation.

Key Remarks

CRF President Shishir Priyadarshi said the world is undergoing profound shifts, with intensifying geopolitical rivalries, technological disruption altering work and governance, climate change affecting societies and economies, and international institutions facing increasing strain. He said India’s growing influence globally demands organisations that combine intellectual honesty, strategic clarity and practical solutions, adding that think tanks can help policymakers, businesses and citizens better understand the choices shaping the country’s future.

Former Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment Erik Solheim emphasised that economic development and environmental stewardship must advance together. He said nations that successfully align growth with sustainability goals will be best positioned to prosper in the coming decades and highlighted the importance of innovative policymaking and international cooperation.

Member of Parliament, Dr Shashi Tharoor, said India requires institutions capable of making sense of a world changing at extraordinary speed. He further added that those shaping public policy should draw on practical industry insights and avoid ideological rigidity or short-term considerations.