By Kamal Shah
An in-depth conversation with Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO underscores the priorities before this national military research spearhead and provides rare insights into its litany of successes. The critical role of SMEs and MMEs in the fields of research and development at a time when the private sector is upping its role and active participation in defence initiatives is a welcome development and the future parameters of the enhanced role are far-sighted and well-calibrated.
Q. In your view, what are the critical factors that can drive successful innovation within startups and SMEs in the defence sector, especially in line with Govt of India’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat?
Ans. The Government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative has focused on India’s defence sector, which aims to promote indigenous production and reduce the country’s dependence on imports. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in the economic development of all countries worldwide. Similarly, defence start-ups have the potential to serve as a driver of innovation and can play an increasing role in equipping the armed forces with niche capabilities. Fostering an ecosystem that promotes, growth, innovation and self-reliance and actively encouraging indigenous defence manufacturing, Budget for industry-led R&D and establishment of defence industrial corridors are the Government’s policies and measures to support the startups and SMEs in the defence sector, the introduction of TDF scheme, ‘Dare To Dream’ Scheme, Collaboration with academia etc are some of the factors for driving successful innovation within startups and SMEs in the defence sector. Defence R&D has been opened up for industry, start-ups and academia with 25% of the defence R&D budget earmarked for the purpose.
Q. How does DRDO’s support for startups and MSMEs align with India’s broader goals for self-reliance in defence technology, is DRDO ready to play the role of a big brother or it would like to compete with these small agile startups?
Ans. To promote MSME sectors, DRDO has started several initiatives. The most important initiative is the Technology Development Fund. This is a Fund that allows us to fund MSMEs to take technologies from TRL (technology readiness level) level 3-4 to TRL level 6-7 so that those technologies then be converted to products and brought to the market. TDF Scheme executed by DRDO supports indigenous development of components, products, systems and technologies by MSMEs and Start-ups. DRDO has evolved a new industry-friendly ToT policy for the transfer of DRDO-developed technologies to industries. DRDO has also promulgated a new patent policy to facilitate Indian industries to get free access to use DRDO patents. The ‘Development cum Production Partner (DcPP)’ model of DRDO is implemented where-in Industry is taken up as DcPP in system development projects. Both development and production units are manufactured by industry along with life cycle support. Nil Transfer of Technology (ToT) fees are being charged from DcPPs/PA/LSI. Industries have been provided with free access to DRDO patents. Lists of systems that will be developed by industry only have been identified by DRDO. Going the extra mile in supporting the MSMEs and Start-ups, DRDO has opened its test facilities for them for utilization, which have been listed on the DRDO website and have been communicated to them as well. Collaborating with DRDO in the development of major weapon systems the Indian industry has matured to a stage where they can develop systems on their own. Indian industry has progressed from a ‘build to print’ partner to a ‘build to specification’ partner. DRDO has also released a list of 108 items that will be designed and developed by the Indian Industry and DRDO will only support the industry. This will allow DRDO to focus more on the design & development of futuristic critical and advanced technologies and systems. Thus, the role of the industry and DRDO is well-defined.
Q. What specific initiatives has DRDO implemented to ensure that innovative ideas from private sector startups are effectively integrated into defence projects?
Ans. Many initiatives have been taken by DRDO to encourage indigenous design, development and manufacture of defence equipment, thereby promoting self-reliance in defence manufacturing in the country. The Technology Development Fund (TDF) Scheme is executed by DRDO under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The Government has approved the TDF Scheme to encourage industries especially MSMEs and Startups to develop various defence technologies. The scheme provides funding through the means of grants-in-aid to design & develop technologies for the systems, components and weapons utilized by the Armed Forces. To promote startups, DRDO has also launched DARE to DREAM contest, which is a Pan India Innovation Contest to support startups & innovators to contribute to Defence ecosystem. DRDO provides a unique opportunity for start-ups and innovators to solve some key challenges in emerging technologies that can help boost India’s Defence & Aerospace capabilities. DRDO specifies various themes and invites innovative ideas under those themes. Best ideas are selected and awarded. DRDO also supports awarded ideas to realize them into Prototypes through TDF scheme.
DRDO also supports Academia through it grant in aid policy for basic research in defence. A large number of researchers and students are working in these academic institutions on specific problems.
Q. Can you provide examples of successful collaborations between DRDO and private startups or MSMEs? What made these collaborations effective?
Ans. Prussian blue insoluble formulations developed by the industry on a DRDO technology developed under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme. The drug has been developed by the industry based on the technology of the Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS), Delhi, a DRDO laboratory. The drug will be available under the trade names Pru-DecorpTM and PruDecorp-MG. The formulations are used for decontamination of Cesium & Thallium and its Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API). It is one of the critical medicines listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for radiological and nuclear emergencies.
Another product developed under the TDF is ARINC818 Video Processing and Switching Module for the Indian Air Force. It is a state-of-the-art module with high bandwidth, low latency, channel bonding and easy networking and will cater to 5th-generation aircraft development programmes.
A Green Propulsion System has been developed under the TDF scheme which has been successfully demonstrated in-orbit functionality on a payload launched by PSLV C-58 mission. The project – 1N Class Green Monopropellant thruster for altitude control and orbit keeping of microsatellite – was sanctioned to a Bengaluru-based start-up Bellatrix Aerospace Pvt Ltd (Development Agency).
Combat Robotics, the Pune-based start-up, has successfully developed an Innovative Simulator for Unmanned Vehicles. It is a multi-domain simulator that supports UGVs), Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs), Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs, and UAVs, serving as an excellent development tool for agencies working on developing autonomous systems. It has been developed under the aegis of Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), a Bengaluru-based laboratory of DRDO.
ChiStats Labs Private Limited is a start-up in the field of data science and AI solutions and the winner of Dare to Dream 2.0 Innovation contest of DRDO has developed Virtual Sensors for Aero Gas Turbine Engine Health Monitoring under the technical guidance and mentorship by DRDO’s Bengaluru-based laboratory GTRE.
NewSpace Research and Technologies Pvt. Ltd., the Bengaluru-based start-up, under the project titled ‘Autonomous Drone as First Responder for Search and Report Operations in Enclosed/Indoor Environments’, has created a cutting-edge UAV capable of exploring indoor environments under various conditions, including in zero light. The technology has been developed under the technical guidance and mentorship of CAIR.
Q. Can you discuss any recent changes or improvements in TDF that have been made to better support startups and SMEs?
Ans. DRDO is supporting MSMEs in several ways, including providing financial assistance and technical assistance and facilitating collaboration between MSMEs and defence PSUs. Till date, a total of 78 projects, with a commitment of over Rs 300 crore, have been sanctioned to various industries, and 27 defence technologies have been successfully realized under the scheme. Earlier, a maximum of Rs 10 crore per project was being provided under TDF, but now the funding has been increased to Rs 50 crore per project, to enable startups and MSMEs to become major players as technology organizations and global supply chain. The scheme allows farming out of up to 40 percent of the project cost on academic consultancy, which is fully funded by DRDO. DRDO is also simplifying the process of project approvals.
DRDO is extending all possible support to them so that they can come up with innovations to build faster & better in the times to come. To enhance cooperation and synergy with the industry, DRDO-Industry meets are also organized from time to time, which are intended to apprise and update industries, especially the MSMEs & start-ups about various industry-friendly initiatives and policies of DRDO as well as address their concerns. Industry partners from MSMEs as well as start-up entrepreneurs give valuable suggestions to improve the current procedures and policies and recommended ways for doing ease of business. The indigenization lists are also there to promote domestic arms manufacture and reduce the burden of arms imports.
Q. What are the main objectives of the DIA-CoE and how do they contribute to the innovation ecosystem?
Ans. The primary aim of establishing DIA-CoEs is to harness and synergize the combined strength of academia, student community, research fellows, niche technology industries and DRDO scientists to provide impetus to research & innovations in identified futuristic defence technological domains. These DIA-CoEs will boost and sustain the development of advanced technologies for future defence systems and platforms through multi-disciplinary & multi-institutional collaborative efforts. DRDO funds research under its various Grant-in-Aid Scheme to undertake research in the fields of Aeronautics, Armaments, Naval and Life Sciences to strengthen funded research.
DIA CoEs set up by DRDO is building an ecosystem to facilitate technology development in the academic environment through experienced faculty and bright scholars, in conjunction with the efforts of the different scientists from DRDO laboratories. These centres will serve to synergize the domain knowledge of DRDO Scientists, the research capacities inherent in our premium academic institutions and the drive of our industries to commercialize emerging home-grown defence technologies.
Q. Can you share specific examples of successful projects or breakthroughs that have emerged from these Centres of Excellence?
Ans. A joint team of scientists from DRDO and IIT Delhi, for the first time in the country successfully demonstrated Quantum Key Distribution link between Prayagraj and Vindhyachal in Uttar Pradesh, a distance of more than 100 kilometers. This technological breakthrough was achieved over a commercial-grade optical fibre already available in the field. With this success, the country has demonstrated indigenous technology of secure key transfer for bootstrapping military-grade communication security key hierarchy. The technology will enable security agencies to plan a suitable quantum communication network with an indigenous technology backbone.
Q. How do these Centres of Excellence foster collaboration between academia, industry and DRDO? What are the key elements that make these partnerships successful?
Ans. DRDO has established 15 DRDO Industry Academia-Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoEs) at various IITs, IISc, Central and State Universities. The DIA-CoE will emerge as a centre of excellence by conducting directed research in advanced technologies for defence and security. DRDO places a high priority on the development of futuristic technologies and systems for defence through academia and industry. This centre will identify the strength of faculty members and industry partners and develop cutting-edge technologies and systems for our armed forces”. The DIA-CoE will facilitate focused basic and applied research by utilizing the knowledge base of professors and researchers at academic institutions and technology centres in the country. DRDO scientists with requisite research and technology expertise will be associated with the academic faculties/ researchers to achieve progress in intended scientific investigations and the development of advanced technologies. These centres are building an ecosystem to facilitate technology development in the academic environment through experienced faculty and bright scholars, in conjunction with the efforts of the different scientists from DRDO laboratories. DRDO will fund the projects and establish key technical facilities and modern infrastructure required to enable and boost R&D programmes under identified verticals.
Q. How does DRDO measure the impact and success of its Industry-Academia Centres of Excellence?
Ans. As part of the partnership with academia, DRDO will gain skilled human resources from eminent institutes such as IISc, IITs, NITs, among others. The academia will benefit from R&D funding provided by the DRDO, along with access to advanced infrastructure in various laboratories of DRDO. The aim of creating these centres is to produce futuristic technologies in different verticals. We are working together on problems to make India a global leader in each of the verticals assigned to the CoE. DRDO aims to utilize DIA-CoE as a means for building an ecosystem comprising DRDO labs, academia, and industry.
Q. Looking ahead, what are the emerging technologies you believe will most significantly impact the defence sector in the next decade?
Ans. Some of the technologies that will impact the defence sector in the next decade are Drones, Robotics, hypersonic, Directed Energy Weapon, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum technology, Photonics, Biosensing, Brain-Machine Interface, Energy Storage, Wearable Devices, Natural Language Processing, Cognitive technologies, Asymmetric technologies and Smart materials etc. The future is dependent on Cognitive Technologies and the new and futuristic area of Asymmetric Technologies will change the way wars are fought.
Q. What is the vision for DRDO’s role in fostering innovation within the Indian defence sector over the next five decades?
Ans. DRDO has enabled an excellent ecosystem within the country wherein it collaborates with academia and industry for the development of systems and sub-systems, armed forces, sister organizations in scientific areas and think tanks to design and develop the systems within the country. The efforts being made by DRDO to integrate youth with Defence R&D towards aligning the young talent pool by promoting research aptitude in young students in niche complex defence technology. Various policies like TDF and Dare to Dream are directly supporting innovation in defence R&D. DRDO has not only taken up design and development, it has taken up all initiatives to streamline and support the production of systems by the industry. DRDO is working to make India an advanced technology nation realizing the dream of Atmanirbhar Bharat and is helping industry in a big way. DRDO is emphasizing long-term engagement with academia and industrial research institutions for sponsored research in dual-use technology.
Q. How can international collaborations be leveraged to enhance India’s defence technology capabilities while maintaining national security?
Ans. There is a growing interest abroad in forging collaborative ties with India in defence. DRDO works in futuristic R&D and technology development in collaboration with some foreign countries. India is collaborating with countries in leveraging advanced technologies to develop tools and fundamental research to improve the algorithm that goes into Artificial Intelligence. AI aids in preventive maintenance, surveillance and cyber security. It is a technology which is going to make a big difference not only in improving the performance of the military but also in its efficiency”. Collaboration with foreign OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) is intrinsic to our aim of Atmanirbhar Bharat, and we have moved from our relationship of a buyer and a seller to one of co-development and co-production with our foreign partners.
DRDO has many foreign collaborations and co-chairs many G-to-G forums like India-USA Joint Technology Group, Indo-Israel Management Council, India-Russia R&D Subgroup, India-Singapore defence technology steering committee, India-UK steering committee, India-Korea steering committee.
