New Delhi, Oct 14 (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday called for closer collaboration among the armed forces, DRDO, academic institutions, defence public sector undertakings and private industry to accelerate the development and adoption of indigenous technologies amid the evolving nature of warfare.
Addressing the launch of IIT Kanpur’s ‘Greater Than Us’ fundraising campaign in New Delhi, Singh said emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, unmanned platforms, advanced sensors, cybersecurity and space-based capabilities were reshaping military operations, making technological self-reliance strategically important.
He said closer coordination between defence forces, research institutions and industry was essential to develop, adopt and continuously upgrade indigenous technologies to meet the changing requirements of the military.
Singh said the Narendra Modi-led government’s commitment to ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ was central to the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’, aimed at making India technologically capable, economically competitive and innovation-driven.
Highlighting the contribution of higher education institutions to the country’s innovation ecosystem, he said the IIT network had supported more than 6,000 start-ups, 56 unicorns and nearly 5,000 patents.
The achievements demonstrated that IITs were not merely centres of learning but had increasingly emerged as drivers of innovation, entrepreneurship and technological development, he said.
Singh welcomed IIT Kanpur’s proposal to establish a School of Defence Technologies and referred to the institute’s DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence as an important initiative to strengthen indigenous defence research.
He also said the proposal to establish a National Military Drone Technology Hub at IIT Kanpur in collaboration with the Defence Ministry had made significant progress, with the approval process nearing completion.
The proposed hub is aimed at accelerating indigenisation and innovation in military drone technology to enhance India’s combat capabilities, he said.
Singh expressed confidence that such partnerships would bring together scientific talent, institutional expertise and the operational experience of the armed forces to develop technologies of strategic importance.
He also highlighted IIT Kanpur’s role in strengthening Uttar Pradesh’s industrial ecosystem, saying the institute could help bridge the gap between scientific research and industrial applications.
The combination of Kanpur’s industrial legacy and IIT Kanpur’s technological expertise could create opportunities for investment, employment, entrepreneurship and economic growth, contributing to Uttar Pradesh’s ambition of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy, he said.
Referring to the institute’s C3i Cybersecurity Technology Innovation Hub and its medical school, Singh said initiatives in cybersecurity, healthcare and medical technology were important for addressing emerging national priorities.
He also stressed the need to advance research in areas such as advanced materials, semiconductors, quantum technology and environmental sustainability.
The Defence Minister highlighted the government’s approval of a Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Scheme to encourage private-sector investment in research and advanced technologies.
While public policy could create an enabling environment, academic institutions needed to nurture talent and generate ideas, and industry had to translate innovations into practical applications and scale them up, he said.
Under the ‘Greater Than Us’ campaign, IIT Kanpur aims to raise USD 1 billion by March 2029. The institute has received commitments of Rs 4,155 crore, nearly half of its target, from alumni, donors, corporate partners and the government.
The campaign seeks to strengthen research infrastructure, nurture talent and accelerate the development and commercialisation of indigenous technologies to support India’s ambition of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Singh urged alumni, industry representatives, philanthropic organisations and institutional partners to support the initiative through financial contributions, mentorship, research collaborations and professional networks.
IIT Kanpur Director Manindra Agrawal, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s adviser Awanish Kumar Awasthi, and faculty members, students and alumni attended the event.—(NVI)
