New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh appreciated India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for its efforts towards strengthening the ties between Academia and Defence R&D.
Singh was speaking at a workshop ‘DRDO-Academia Interaction for Achieving Leadership in Future Technologies’ in New Delhi on November 13.
He said scientific and technological excellence is associated with national pride and stressed that sustained efforts are required for utilising academic expertise for futuristic defence applications.
DRDO has huge potential to absorb innovation which is not only limited to R&D organisations but can sprout from any corner of the country. It has already established eight Centers of Technology in various universities in order to undertake targeted advanced research on the topics of special interest to DRDO for conceiving and realising futuristic defence applications.
Eminent academicians present in the workshop brought forward many ideas to forge the interactions between DRDO and academic institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy called for directed research in specialised defence areas like Advanced Propulsion, Terahertz Technologies, Advanced Robotics, Cyber Technologies, Quantum Technologie and Smart Materials for future preparedness.
He spoke on various existing mechanisms for engagement between DRDO and Academia like CARS Projects, Extramural Research Projects, Technology Development Fund, Directed Research Project and Kalam Innovation Award.
Dr Reddy said, DRDO is ready to bring out more models of engagement for enabling academia participation in mainstream Defence R&D. He proposed that models of engagement need to be worked out with accountability from both sides for increased technological output and its utilisation into defence products. The proposals and ideas are welcome from the Academia.
In his address, Secretary (Higher Education) at Ministry of Human Resource & Development (MHRD) R Subramanyam stressed the need for an eco-system and effective synergy between all stakeholders for accelerated development of critical technologies. He proposed a joint task force to evolve a way ahead.
