Kolkata, June 23 (IANS) Aimed at fostering research in futuristic technologies like robotics and unmanned vehicles, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) on Thursday entered into a joint venture with the Jadavpur University for establishing a Rs. 100 crore research centre.
To be functional in the next two years, the Jagadish Chandra Bose Centre for Advanced Technology (JCBCAT) will act as a self-accounting unit of the DRDO.
DRDO Director General S. Christopher, who laid its foundation stone, said the centre will primarily undertake research in areas of secure systems and cognitive technologies, directed energy, unmanned and robotics technologies and other futuristic technologies.
"With a budget of around Rs 100 crore, the centre will not only promote research in futuristic technologies,it will also facilitate defence-academia partnership," he said.
Christopher, also the Secretary, Department of the Defence Research and Development, said the DRDO will support and facilitate advanced research and utilise the outcome in developing futuristic defence systems.
The researchers will also have the opportunity to work on real problems in the advanced areas of defence technologies. The concerted research efforts at this centre will lead to realisation of indigenous technologies in critical areas and enhance self-reliance.
Asserting that the Narendra Modi government's 'Make in India' campaign was a big boost for the DRDO, Christopher said the organisation was focussing on exporting some of its products.
