A PwC report projects that AI could add between $135.6 billion and $149.9 billion to India's manufacturing MSMEs by 2035, contingent on these firms raising their contribution to manufacturing value added to 50%. To unlock trillions in growth by 2047, MSMEs must adopt AI in production and leverage it to integrate into global value chains.
The report highlights a significant parallel opportunity for MSMEs to supply non-technical manufacturing products, like cooling equipment, to the AI infrastructure sector—a market valued between $100 billion and $150 billion. AI adoption can help MSMEs overcome productivity constraints through applications like predictive maintenance and quality control, transforming them from cost-based suppliers to competitive value creators.
The proposed "3A2I framework" aims to guide firms through the stages of access, acceptance, assimilation, implementation, and institutionalization of AI to capture this value.
Main Topics: Economic impact of AI on MSMEs, AI adoption in manufacturing, opportunities in AI infrastructure supply chains, frameworks for technology integration.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) could contribute between $135.6 billion and $149.9 billion to the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the manufacturing sector as early as 2035. This projection, according to a PwC report titled "Unlocking the AI Edge for MSMEs," remains contingent on these enterprises accounting for 50% of the nation's manufacturing value added.
The report indicates that MSMEs stand to unlock growth opportunities in the range of $3.13-$3.21 trillion by 2047. The way forward for this is if India increases the manufacturing share of GDP to 25% and MSMEs raise their contribution to manufacturing gross value added (GVA) from 35.4% in FY 2023-24 to 50 per cent.
Achieving this "exponential 19x leap in value creation" requires MSMEs to adopt AI on shop floors and leverage the technology to become active partners across global value chains.
Beyond direct production, a significant demand-side opportunity exists for MSMEs to supply non-technical manufacturing products to AI infrastructure and chip manufacturers. The report identifies a market for "harnesses, chambers, cooling equipment, and other non-technical manufacturing products" valued between USD 100 billion and $150 billion.
With AI expected to contribute $1.7 trillion to the overall economy by 2035, the investment required for AI infrastructure is estimated at $500 billion.
The report notes that "non-tech-intensive capital goods account for 20-30% of capex on such projects," which is a sector where MSMEs maintain an active presence. By reducing capability barriers across design, quality, and decision-making, AI allows these firms to "leapfrog structural and operational constraints" and "escape the low-productivity trap."
Technological integration enables MSMEs to reposition themselves as "competitive value creators rather than cost-based suppliers." Specific applications include predictive maintenance, vision-led quality control, and intelligent inventory management. Furthermore, AI combined with local language models simplifies interfaces and reduces the need for technical expertise.
The report defines AI's role through three functions: a "Scaler" that decreases processing times, an "Enricher" that augments human decision-making, and a "Reinventor" that transforms how value is captured.
To manage this transition, the study proposes a "3A2I framework" built around "access, acceptance, assimilation, implementation, and institutionalisation" to help firms translate adoption into measurable value.
The report indicates that MSMEs stand to unlock growth opportunities in the range of $3.13-$3.21 trillion by 2047. The way forward for this is if India increases the manufacturing share of GDP to 25% and MSMEs raise their contribution to manufacturing gross value added (GVA) from 35.4% in FY 2023-24 to 50 per cent.
Achieving this "exponential 19x leap in value creation" requires MSMEs to adopt AI on shop floors and leverage the technology to become active partners across global value chains.
Beyond direct production, a significant demand-side opportunity exists for MSMEs to supply non-technical manufacturing products to AI infrastructure and chip manufacturers. The report identifies a market for "harnesses, chambers, cooling equipment, and other non-technical manufacturing products" valued between USD 100 billion and $150 billion.
With AI expected to contribute $1.7 trillion to the overall economy by 2035, the investment required for AI infrastructure is estimated at $500 billion.
The report notes that "non-tech-intensive capital goods account for 20-30% of capex on such projects," which is a sector where MSMEs maintain an active presence. By reducing capability barriers across design, quality, and decision-making, AI allows these firms to "leapfrog structural and operational constraints" and "escape the low-productivity trap."
Technological integration enables MSMEs to reposition themselves as "competitive value creators rather than cost-based suppliers." Specific applications include predictive maintenance, vision-led quality control, and intelligent inventory management. Furthermore, AI combined with local language models simplifies interfaces and reduces the need for technical expertise.
The report defines AI's role through three functions: a "Scaler" that decreases processing times, an "Enricher" that augments human decision-making, and a "Reinventor" that transforms how value is captured.
To manage this transition, the study proposes a "3A2I framework" built around "access, acceptance, assimilation, implementation, and institutionalisation" to help firms translate adoption into measurable value.
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