TechSurge: Deep Tech Podcast

Inside Nokia’s Strategy: CSTO Nishant Batra on Telecom’s Future, Brand Reinvention, and Betting on Bell Labs

In this episode of TechSurge, host Sriram Viswanathan sits down with Nishant Batra, Chief Strategy and Technology Officer at Nokia, for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of telecom and wireless technology. Nishant shares insights into the seismic shifts transforming network infrastructure—from core networks to edge computing—and discusses how Nokia leverages artificial intelligence to optimize performance and drive innovation. The conversation also highlights Nokia's unique innovation framework, spanning its corporate venture investments, internal incubator, and expansion of the legendary Bell Labs. Today Nokia leverages Bell Labs’ groundbreaking research into emerging technology for internal innovation and new venture spinouts in collaboration with venture capital firms, including recently announced inaugural spinout startup, Astranu. Links: Discover the groundbreaking Nokia-Celesta spinout advancing healthcare imaging technology - Astranu Learn about the legendary innovation powerhouse - Nokia Bell Labs (00:00) - The Genesis of Nokia and Bell Labs (01:02) - Introduction to Tech Surge Deep Tech Podcast (02:43) - Nokia's Storied History and Evolution (03:48) - Nokia's Technological Innovations and Market Presence (09:12) - The Impact of the iPhone and Mobile Data Tsunami (14:52) - Understanding Open RAN, Cloud RAN, and AI RAN (21:28) - Fragmentation and Integration in Telecom Networks (25:09) - Market Share Analysis of Telecom Giants (25:46) - Nokia Bell Labs: A Legacy of Innovation (27:56) - Bell Labs' Global Impact and Future Plans (30:33) - Commercializing Bell Labs Innovations (37:03) - Nokia's Venture and Incubation Strategies (44:44) - Exciting Technologies and Leadership Insights (47:11) - Conclusion

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Leading Through Chaos: John Chambers on Tariffs, Cyber Threats, & the AI Supercycle

Competition, growth, tariffs, hacks, AI – what does it take to be an effective leader today? John Chambers, former CEO and Executive Chairman of Cisco and founder of JC2 Ventures, joins TechSurge host Sriram Viswanathan to share valuable wisdom on leading and growing businesses through times of significant change. As a leader who has transitioned from the c-suite to venture capital and now mentoring founders in emerging technology sectors, John has seen it all. He shares lessons from his time leading one of the world’s most influential networking companies at Cisco (the most valuable company in the world at the time), revealing what he learned while growing it from a challenger networking company into a $50 billion tech powerhouse, sharing how Cisco achieved and maintained its market leadership, particularly his bold M&A strategies. John offers hard‑won insights on navigating major technology shifts in AI, cloud, security, and more. Today’s founders and executives will find practical frameworks, real‑world war stories, and counterintuitive advice to help survive and thrive in an era of continual disruption. If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Sign up for our newsletter at techsurgepodcast.com for exclusive insights and updates on upcoming TechSurge Live Summits. Links: Explore John Chambers' family office and venture firm at JC2 Ventures Read John Chambers' book “Connecting the Dots” on Amazon Discover the organization John chaired for eight years US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Learn about the company John and Sriram have invested in together at ParkourSC Find out about the deep fake detection company Pin Drop Learn about the cybersecurity company Rubrik (00:00) - Navigating the AI Revolution (03:03) - The Genesis of JC2 Ventures (05:45) - Investment Philosophy and Market Transitions (09:08) - The Role of Customer Feedback in Innovation (11:54) - Building Companies for IPO vs. Acquisition (15:04) - The Importance of Management and Culture (17:51) - AI's Impact on Business and Society (20:54) - Global Economic Trends and Strategic Partnerships (24:08) - Cybersecurity in the Age of AI (27:00) - The Future of AI and Global Cooperation (30:10) - Challenges and Opportunities in the Tech Landscape (32:45) - Key Traits of Successful Tech Leaders

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China, Funding Cuts, & Campus Controversy: Is U.S. Tech Leadership Falling Behind?

MIT President Emeritus Dr. Rafael Reif joins host Michael Marks for a discussion about the state of U.S. competitiveness in technology, university research funding, current immigration policy, and more. Reif explains why universities remain the innovation engines of economies, educating top talent and generating the foundational research that powers emerging tech and creates new industries. He candidly assesses U.S.-China competition, warns that Chinese research output is rapidly outpacing our own, and urges renewed federal investment. The discussion explores how restrictive immigration policies threaten the flow of global talent into the U.S and his own impression of current policies as an immigrant from Venezuela himself. As a TSMC board member, Reif also touches on the strategic need for domestic semiconductor fabs, Intel’s path forward, and TSMC’s edge in advancing cutting-edge nodes. Lastly, he addresses gaps in the venture capital funding space and why he created MIT’s The Engine incubator model to fund “tough tech” startups, which helped launch breakthroughs like Commonwealth Fusion Systems. If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Sign up for our newsletter at techsurgepodcast.com for exclusive insights and updates on upcoming TechSurge Live Summits. Connect with Rafael Reif on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/l-rafael-rief-b8977b231 Dive deeper into Reif’s career, publications, and awards. Read his full biography https://reif.mit.edu/biography Read Rafael's recent op-ed about government R&D funding: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/02/17/opinion/science-technology-research-development/ Read Rafael's speech about the role of universities in building a strong U.S. economy: https://reif.mit.edu/speeches-writing/strong-universities-make-strong-united-states Explore how MIT’s Engine incubator is fueling “tough tech” startups like fusion power. Learn about The Engine https://engine.xyz/ Watch Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ plan to deliver commercial fusion energy. Discover CFS https://cfs.energy/ Understand the roadmap to a 400 MW fusion pilot plant. Read the MIT News report https://news.mit.edu/2024/commonwealth-fusion-systems-unveils-worlds-first-fusion-power-plant-1217