DRDO Signs 6 MoUs with Industry Leaders for Technology Transfer

New Landmark for DRDO-FICCI Technology Commercialization Programme

NEW DELHI, January 25, 2010. The DRDO-FICCI Accelerated Technology Assessment and Commercialization (ATAC) Programme reached a new landmark today with the signing of 6 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between DRDO and leading industry players. The MoUs will enable transfer of DRDO developed technologies to the partner industries and, in turn, make them globally competitive. The ATAC, a joint initiative of DRDO and FICCI, is aimed at helping industries to absorb high-quality DRDO technologies and apply them commercially to produce quality and reliable industrial products at an affordable cost to the consumer.

The industries that signed the MoUs today with DRDO are: Jyothy Laboratories Ltd. and Alkali Metals Ltd., for Multi-insect repellant based on DEPA; Jyothy Laboratories for woolcare; Vantage Security for explosive detection kit; Deltapure Water India Ltd. and Ariva Group for RO based Water Purification System; MGM Associates for High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPO) Chamber and GSC Glass Ltd. for electrochromic window. The MoUs were signed in the presence of Mr. MM Pallam Raju, Minsister of State for Defence, Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat, DG, DRDO and Secretary, Defence R&D; Dr. Prahlada, Chief Controller, R&D (Services Interaction), DRDO; and Dr. Amit Mitra, Secretary General, FICCI.

DRDO labs have been undertaking a large number of projects in wide-ranging areas of science & technology related to the Indian Armed Forces. Though the end products are for military use, many of the technologies that are developed to realize these systems can have civilian applications. These technologies and products may have large commercial potential and wide application in India and abroad.

On the other hand, many industries are keen on new scientific inputs and processes for expanding their business. To unearth the hidden potential in the commercial market, DRDO through FICCI, launched the ATAC programme. This commercialization process is aimed at filling the technology gap in Indian industries.A proposal for providing incentives to scientists who are behind these innovations is also on the anvil and DRDO hopes to introduce it soon.FICCI has been successfully running the technology commercialization programme since 2007 under the banner of India Innovation Growth Programme.

FICCI has established a Centre for Technology Commercialisation to provide an organized structure to link the mind to the market. The Centre will be supported by the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. All activities of technology assessment and commercialization at FICCI would be undertaken as part of this Centre. Says Dr. Amit Mitra, Secretary General, FICCI, “We would be supporting all public and private funded research organizations under this. We will continue to provide commercialization support to DRDO, DST and look forward to supporting organizations like CSIR as well.”