Pune: In an effort to strengthen the defense ecosystem with greater industry involvement, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), through its Armaments and Combat Engineering (ACE) cluster, organized an industry interaction campaign on October 18, 2024, at the APJ Abdul Kalam Auditorium in Pashan, Pune.
The event aimed to update industry stakeholders, including MSMEs and start-ups, on DRDO's latest initiatives and policies. More than 250 representatives from the defense sector participated in the discussions.
Prof. Prateek Kishore, Director General of ACE, presented the campaign’s focus on building a robust supply chain supported by advanced quality systems for the development of complex defense technologies. The event also provided insights into technology transfer mechanisms and the accessibility of DRDO’s testing facilities.
A significant highlight of the campaign was the presentation on the ‘System for Advanced Manufacturing Assessment and Rating (SAMAR),’ developed in collaboration with the Quality Council of India (QCI). This tool is designed to evaluate the maturity of defense manufacturing enterprises.
The session also explored opportunities for the indigenous development of advanced defense technologies and the replacement of imported products through the Technology Development Fund.
Furthermore, industry representatives were introduced to the collaboration platform available with academia through the DRDO Industry Academia - Center of Excellence (DIA-CoE), active in 15 prestigious academic institutions, including DIAT, Pune.
An open house was held to collect feedback from industry participants on ways to enhance and accelerate their involvement in achieving self-reliance in defense technologies and systems.
The campaign was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Vice Admiral Ranjit Singh, Director DQRS DRDO HQ, Shri A Raju, Director ARDE, Dr. AP Dash, Director HEMRL, Sh. Arun Chaudhury, Director DIITM DRDO HQ, and Dr. SE Talole, Associate Director R&DE(E), along with other senior scientists from DRDO’s Pune-based laboratories.