The DRDO-FICCI Accelerated Technology Assessment
and Commercialization (ATAC) Programme reached
a new landmark on Monday with the signing
of six Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between DRDO and leading industry players.
Buzz up!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 and D; Dr. Prahlada,
Chief Controller, R and 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 and 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." (ANI)