DRDO to set up research and innovation centre at IIT-Madras, says V.K. Saraswat

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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has decided to set up a research and innovation centre in the Research Park of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras, V.K. Saraswat, DRDO Director General and Defence Research and Development Department Secretary, said on Tuesday.

After delivering a talk on the second day of the 98th Indian Science Congress at Kattankulathur, near here, Dr Saraswat told reporters that the proposed centre would focus on materials manufacturing, aerospace, software development and nano materials.

Pointing out that there would be a “free flow” of scientists, academicians and students in this project, he said “my scientists will work in IIT as adjunct professors. Similarly, IIT professors and students will work as scientists in my center.”

The DRDO recently signed a contract with the IIT to implement the research and innovation centre project. It had taken one floor of the Research Park building, measuring nearly 30,000 sq. ft. In eight months, the proposed centre was expected to be ready.

He admitted that in the past, some collaborative research projects in the past went for a toss as they were dependent on particular faculties which were available for specific periods. To correct this, the DRDO wanted to ensure that the projects had continuity. “Through collaborative efforts, we are binding the institution. The binding force is not at the level of one faculty but with respect to the entire community of academicians including students.”

Indicating the DRDO’s plans to launch a commercial arm, Dr. Saraswat said through a Rs.20-crore programme involving the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the DRDO had transferred to more than 15 industrial units defence technologies for civilian purposes. The industrial units belonged to the public and private sectors.

He denied a suggestion that there had been delay in setting up the commercial arm. As the mechanism had only existed to meet the requirements of the armed forces through the Department of Defence Production, the commercial arm was not originally envisaged. “Over a period of time, there are new users coming up. For instance, para-military forces are looking for equipment which are required to be customized from what we have delivered for the armed forces,” he said, adding that there were civilian spin-offs of those technologies developed for the armed forces.

To a question on the expected amount of revenue to be generated initially, the DRDO chief replied that according to his expectation, Rs. 60 crore to Rs. 70 crore could be earned annually. However, he emphasised that the success lay on the DRDO’s ability to market its products in a market “which is going to be globally competitive.”