Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, the Minister of Defence, highlighted the significance of a technologically advanced military in protecting the nation’s interests during the inauguration of a two-day DRDO-Academia conclave in New Delhi on May 25, 2023. He stressed that India, being one of the largest armed forces in the world, faces a double threat on its borders, making it crucial to have a technologically advanced military.
Shri Rajnath Singh praised the bravery and valor of India’s military, which is acknowledged globally, with many countries expressing their willingness to conduct joint exercises with the Indian armed forces. He emphasized the importance of a partnership between DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organization) and academia in finding solutions to the challenges faced by the country in the 21st century. This collaboration is expected to contribute to making India a leading nation in defense technologies.
The Minister highlighted the role of research and development (R&D) in the acquisition of advanced technologies, stating that without research, the adoption of new technologies would not be possible. R&D has historically played a significant role in the development of civilizations and has the potential to convert ordinary substances into valuable resources. Shri Rajnath Singh expressed confidence that the partnership between DRDO and academia would unlock the potential of new resources, benefiting the entire country.
He viewed the partnership between DRDO and academia as a collaboration that goes beyond the sum of its parts, stating that when these two entities cooperate, the benefits extend beyond their individual gains, positively impacting the entire nation.
Shri Rajnath Singh emphasized the benefits of the DRDO-Academia partnership, where DRDO gains access to skilled human resources from esteemed institutions such as IISc (Indian Institute of Science), IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology), NITs (National Institutes of Technology), and other universities across the country. In return, academia benefits from DRDO’s R&D funding, access to advanced infrastructure, and laboratory facilities. This symbiotic relationship is expected to enhance the startup culture in India.
The Minister also highlighted the potential applications of technologies developed through collaborative efforts in both civil and defense sectors. He encouraged the scientists of DRDO and academia to consider the option of deploying DRDO scientists as faculty in academic institutions for a specific period and vice versa, allowing academia to gain a new perspective while DRDO benefits from the intellectual contribution of academia.
During the event, Raksha Mantri felicitated eminent scientists who have made outstanding contributions in areas such as Aeronautics, Armaments, Life Sciences, and Naval systems through the grant-in-aid DRDO projects. He also released a Compendium of Invited Talks on the thrust areas for academia to understand the requirements and opportunities in DRDO.
The two-day conclave aims to facilitate interaction between the requirements of DRDO and the capabilities of academia through a synergistic dialogue between DRDO directors, scientists, and academicians. It includes plenary and technical sessions on Aeronautics, Naval, Life Science, and Armament. Approximately 350 senior academicians from across the country are attending the event.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.