DRDO refines research verticals, thrust areas

The Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management (DFTM) at the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) in New Delhi has released the redefined and augmented research verticals and thrust areas across DRDO Industry Academia-Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoEs). The objective is to streamline and enhance the focus of directed research, an official press release said.

The realignment and augmentation of research areas include future technology requirements of DRDO laboratories and deep technology research areas. The 65 research verticals distributed across 15 DIA-CoEs have been redesigned into 82 research verticals. This important development is part of a strategic effort to refine the DIA-CoEs’ research focus and introduce cutting-edge deep technology research areas to strengthen the overall research outcomes.

Some of the new areas added to the bouquet of research verticals are Compound Semiconductor Technologies at IITB, Laser Beam Combining-based Communication, Power Transmission & Manufacturing and Extraction & Recycling of Materials at IITH, Software Defined Radios at IITK, Emerging RF Technologies at IITR, and Cryptography and Information Security at IITKgp and many more.

The new realignment is expected to encourage stronger interdisciplinary, multi-institutional research collaboration engaging industry and academia, minimise duplicative efforts, and maximise resource utilisation across the institutions. Additionally, it will also ensure that DIA-CoEs contribute meaningfully to address the DRDO’s future technology challenges and shaping the future of defence technology, the release said.