Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur (IIT Jodhpur) in collaboration with Defence Research and Development Organisation inaugurated the DRDO-Industry-Academia Center of Excellence (DIA-CoE) today, 19th April 2024. The DIA-CoE is poised to revolutionize interdisciplinary research and foster the next generation of innovators in defense technology through collaboration between academia, industry, and DRDO research labs. The inauguration ceremony witnessed the esteemed presence of Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO, alongside Prof. Santanu Chaudhury, Director, IIT Jodhpur, Dr. Subrata Rakshit, Director General (TM) DRDO Hq., and Prof. Samanwita Pal, Dean R&D, IIT Jodhpur. The Center of Excellence will spearhead directed research in identified verticals, including Desert Warfare Technologies, Futuristic Omni Mobility Systems, and Artificial Intelligence for Information and Wargaming Technologies. Furthermore, it will undertake science and technology initiatives as identified by DRDO, heralding a new era of innovation and collaboration. In his address, Dr. Samir V. Kamat expressed his optimism about the collaborative venture, stating, “This day marks a very important milestone in the journey of DIA-CoE. We aim to utilize DIA-CoE as means for building an ecosystem comprising DRDO labs, academia, and industry. It is our wish that in the years to come, these Centers of Excellence will be like the hubs in the United States where MIT Caltech, Stanford played a big role in making the US a superpower in technology. We hope that these centers will provide us with the same impetus to build a nation that leads in technology, fulfilling the wish of our Prime Minister.” Under the first phase of collaboration, IIT Jodhpur and DRDO will embark on a diverse range of innovations, encompassing projects such as Multi-agent Amphibious Quadcopter System, Bioinspired Flapping Wing Model, AIOT Based Water Monitoring Technologies, Smart Apparel for Desert Warfare, and more. Additionally, future projects in the pipeline will delve into critical areas such as Cold Plasma-based technologies, Hydrogen-based power generation systems, and Energy Harvesting for defence applications, among others. Prof. Santanu Chaudhury, Director, IIT Jodhpur, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating, “Centers like these should really evolve into hubs of R&D, addressing the defence capability needs of our country. Research is profoundly fundamental to have new technologies invented. However, it must not end with invention alone; the entire journey towards innovation, product development, and implementation is equally imperative. This holistic approach is exceptionally critical, underscoring the unique role of this center. It transcends mere academic research, delving into real-world problems that demand solutions, yet it does not stop there—it progresses towards transformation. This comprehensive ecosystem marks a significant step, one that academia must wholeheartedly appreciate and take it forward.” The establishment of the DIA-CoE at IIT Jodhpur, initiated through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 6th October 2022, underscores a concerted effort to pursue directed basic and applied research in identified verticals, with the overarching goal of developing futuristic technologies and products to meet defence requirements. Shri Ravindra Kumar, Former Director of Defence Laboratory Jodhpur, currently serves as the Director of the center, overseeing its strategic initiatives and collaborative endeavors. DRDO will finance all research projects undertaken by the Centre, facilitating interaction between IIT Jodhpur faculty and different DRDO laboratories to identify areas of research and coordinate their execution. IIT Jodhpur’s expertise in multiple domains directly connected with strategic and warfare areas, such as Technologies for desert operations, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Mobility, and Robotics, positions it as a fitting choice for DRDO to establish the CoE. The DIA-CoE at IIT Jodhpur embodies a symbiotic partnership between academia, industry, and the defence establishment, aimed at harnessing collective expertise and resources to tackle complex challenges in defence technology. By leveraging talent and state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Center endeavors to emerge as a global leader in identified areas of research.
