DRDO will set up research centre at IIT-Madras: Saraswat

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 SRM University in Kattankulathur near here, Dr. Saraswat told journalists 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 the project, he said: “My scientists will work in IIT as adjunct professors. Similarly, IIT professors and students will work as scientists in my centre.”
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. The proposed centre is expected to be ready in eight months.
Dr. Saraswat admitted that in the past, some collaborative research projects had gone 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,” he said.
Commercial arm
Indicating the DRDO's plans to launch a commercial arm, Dr. Saraswat said that through a Rs. 20-crore programme involving the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the DRDO had transferred to more than 15 industrial units defence technologies for civilian purposes. The units belonged to the public and private sectors. He denied any 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.