DERHADUN:  Ministry of Defence, Government of India, has approved a new research centre at Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee). This center aims at making  Atam-Nirbhar in defence sector. 

The facility will be known as ‘DRDO Industry Academia-Centre of Excellence’ (DIA-CoE) at IIT Roorkee.

This has also been intimated in a seminar on Atmaanirbharta in Defence R&D held at the recent DefExpo 2022, India, at Gandhinagar, chaired by Defence Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh.

It was announced that Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has spelt out a new vision and new role towards nation-building.

DRDO  has recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with six IITs including IIT Roorkee.

Prof. Vipul Rastogi, Department of Physics, IIT Roorkee was present to acknowledge the MoU exchange with DRDO Chairman Mr. Samir V Kamath at the DefExpo. Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, Director General Technology Management (DGTM), Shri Hari Babu Srivastava, and the Director, Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management (DFTM) Mr. Kailash Pathak witnessed the event. 

Rajnath Singh also concurred on the important role of DRDO as a facilitator for enhancing and help developing research facilities in academic Institutes like IITs. 

DFTM, DRDO HQrs will be steering and coordinating with academia/IITs, Industries, and DRDO labs for directed research through the DIA-CoE.

With the establishment of the Research Centre, IIT Roorkee will have improved prospects and avenues to address critical and futuristic defence technology requirements of the armed forces. The Facility will receive financial assistance from the DRDO, Government of India.

The DIA-CoE IITR will facilitate and undertake multidisciplinary directed basic and applied research in the research verticals mutually identified by the DRDO and IITR.

The Centre of Excellence (CoE) will also collaborate with the academic researchers and faculties at IIT Roorkee, startups, industries, and other institutes in the country in facilitating and progressing advanced defence technology research.

It will include IITR faculty members and students, DRDO scientists, start-ups, industry, and other research organizations.