New Delhi (NVI): With an aim to leverage academic expertise available in the country, and to increase the synergy with academia, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) organised a workshop titled ‘DRDO-Academia Interaction for Achieving Leadership in Future Technologies’ here today.
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 technologies, smart materials and others for future preparedness, an official statement said.
He talked about 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 also 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, he added.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has appreciated DRDO for its efforts towards strengthening the ties between academia and Defence R&D.
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, the statement said.
In his address, Secretary (Higher Education) in the 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 also proposed a joint task force to evolve a way ahead.
Present were Additional Secretary at MHRD Rajesh Sarwal, Directors of IIT Delhi, Jodhpur, Varanasi, Palakkad, Guwahati, Directors of NIT Jaipur, Bhopal, Calicut, Delhi and Kurukshetra, Vice-Chancellors of University of Hyderabad, Jadhavpur University, Mizoram University, Bharthiar University.
DG (Resource & Managementand System Analysis & Modelling), DG (Technology Management), DG (Human Resources), DG (Life Sciences), DG (Micro Electronic Devices, Computational Systems & Cyber Systems) from DRDO and representatives of heads of other eminent academic institutes were also present during the deliberations.
In the workshop, various ideas were discussed to explore new horizons of collaboration so that research directly contributes towards defence products and applications.
The avenues where the researchers and technology experts available in the country can be engaged strategically for contribution to the design and development of advanced defence products were also discussed, the statement said.
