The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK), in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has inaugurated the DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA CoE) on its campus.
This centre aims to drive interdisciplinary research in next-generation defence technologies, aligning with DRDO’s initiative to establish similar centres in key academic institutions across India. These centres aim to foster technology development within academic settings by leveraging the expertise of faculty, bright scholars, and DRDO scientists.
The newly established centre will focus on several critical research and development verticals, including:
- Printing on Flexible Substrates: Developing devices and systems based on thin films for strategic applications.
- Advanced Nanomaterials: Contributing fundamentally to material selection and design.
- Accelerated Material Design and Development: Reducing the need for extensive trial experiments through high-throughput experiments to reach optimal solutions.
- High Energy Materials: Modelling high-performance explosives and predicting the performance of metalised explosives.
- Bio-Engineering: Creating technologies for applications ranging from sensing hazardous agents to wound healing.
Mr Sanjay Tandon, former director of the Institute of Technology Management at Mussoorie, has been appointed as the Director of DIA CoE at IIT Kanpur, overseeing strategic initiatives and collaborations. DRDO will fund the projects and provide the necessary technical facilities and modern infrastructure to support R&D programs in the identified verticals.
The journey to establish the DIA CoE at IIT Kanpur began in 2022 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during Def-Expo-2022 in Gandhinagar. The centre was jointly inaugurated by Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, and Prof. Manindra Agarwal, Director of IIT Kanpur. The event also saw the presence of key figures such as Dr Subrata Rakshit, Director General (Technology Management) at DRDO, Prof Tarun Gupta, Dean of R&D at IIT Kanpur, and other notable DRDO and IITK personnel.
Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur, highlighted the importance of this collaborative effort, stating, “With the changing times, the need for advancement of technology in the defence sector is greater than ever. The establishment of Industry Academia Centres of Excellence by DRDO is a step in the right direction. IIT Kanpur, with its strong R&D expertise and state-of-the-art facilities in various cutting-edge fields, is well poised to contribute significantly to this effort. Congratulations to the entire team and best wishes for the success of DIA CoE at IIT Kanpur.”
Dr Samir V Kamat emphasised the centre’s role in making the defence sector self-reliant and sustainable. “The Centre will pave the path for the indigenisation of various strategic technologies, accelerating the development of new materials for futuristic defence systems. This collaboration will fulfil the long-term needs of the defence sector,” he said.
Dr Subrata Rakshit noted, “DIA CoEs established in 15 academic institutes will serve as R&D hubs to address future defence needs. They will synergise the domain knowledge of DRDO Scientists, the research capacities of our academic institutions, and the drive of our industries to commercialise emerging defence technologies. The inauguration and first governing council meeting mark a significant milestone in this journey.”
Prof. Tarun Gupta, Dean of R&D at IIT Kanpur, added, “IIT Kanpur has established itself as a leading institute in technology development and transfer. The opening of DIA CoE at IITK will foster valuable collaboration with defence labs in the country, delivering strategically important tools and devices. This strengthens our path towards a VIKSIT BHARAT!”
Dr N Ranjana, Director of DFTM at DRDO, concluded, “Long-term research in defence technology is about planting seeds for future security. It’s about investing in advancements that could be critical deterrents and lifesaving tools of tomorrow.”
This initiative marks a significant step towards advancing India’s defence technology landscape, ensuring that innovative research is translated into practical applications that benefit the community and enhance national security.
