The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has inaugurated a new Centre of Excellence in Defence Technologies. This centre, named the DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA CoE), aims to foster interdisciplinary research in cutting-edge defence technologies.
This initiative aligns with DRDO’s strategy of establishing Centres of Excellence at key academic institutions across India. These centres are designed to cultivate a robust ecosystem that facilitates technological development in an academic environment. By leveraging the expertise of faculty, scholars, and DRDO scientists, these centres aim to drive innovation in defence technology.
The DIA CoE at IIT Kanpur will focus its research efforts on several critical areas. These include printing on flexible substrates to create devices and systems using thin films for strategic applications, developing advanced nanomaterials for material selection and design, and using high-throughput experiments to accelerate material design and development.
Additionally, the centre will work on high energy materials, specifically modelling high-performance explosives and predicting the performance of metallized explosives. In the realm of bioengineering, the focus will be on technologies ranging from sensing hazardous agents to wound healing.
Sanjay Tandon, former director of the Institute of Technology Management at Mussoorie, will serve as the Director of DIA CoE at IIT Kanpur. He will oversee the centre's strategic initiatives and collaborative efforts. DRDO will provide funding for the projects and establish essential technical facilities and modern infrastructure to support the research and development programs.
The inauguration event saw participation from research coordinators at IIT Kanpur, senior scientists from DRDO labs, and IIT Kanpur faculty members. Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur, emphasised the importance of this collaboration. He highlighted the need for advancements in defence technology to achieve true self-reliance for India. He praised the establishment of the Industry-Academia Centres of Excellence by DRDO as a significant step towards this goal.
Samir V Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, expressed optimism about the centre's potential impact. He noted that the centre would pave the way for indigenizing various strategic technologies, making the defence sector self-reliant and sustainable.
Subrata Rakshit, Director General of Technology Management at DRDO, explained that the DIA CoEs established at 15 academic institutions would serve as R&D hubs to address future defence needs. These centres are intended to synergize the domain knowledge of DRDO scientists, the research capabilities of academic institutions, and the commercial drive of industry partners to develop and commercialise emerging home-grown defence technologies. The inauguration of the DIA CoE at IIT Kanpur marks a significant milestone in this journey.
Prof. Tarun Gupta, Dean of R&D at IIT Kanpur, reflected on the institute’s history of technology development and its contributions to both industry and government. He stated that the establishment of the DIA CoE at IIT Kanpur would strengthen valuable collaborations with defence labs across the country and help deliver strategically important tools and devices. This initiative is seen as a step towards a more developed and self-reliant India.
N Ranjana, Director of DFTM at DRDO, emphasised the importance of long-term research in defence technology. She noted that such research is not about quick fixes but about laying the groundwork for future security. Investing in advancements today can result in critical deterrents and lifesaving tools for tomorrow.
Follow us
