The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is ready to fund educational institutions for taking up research projects relevant to the objectives of the organisation, according to P. Sivakumar, Director, Combat Vehicle Research and Development Establishment, DRDO, Chennai.
He was delivering a speech on the occasion of the launching of Rs.1.15-crore worth of DRDO-sponsored projects at AUMTEC'71 Hall of Annamalai University at Chidambaram near here on Saturday.
Mr. Sivakumar said that for the purpose the institutions need not enter into any Memorandum of Understanding with the DRDO, because its directors were empowered to sanction projects worth Rs.10 lakh on their own and for projects exceeding Rs.20 lakh appropriate clearance would be obtained from the designated authorities.
The Director further said that 5 per cent of the budgetary allocation for the DRDO was earmarked for encouraging research activities in educational institutions under the Extramural Research Scheme and the Centre for Acquisition of Research Services (CARS) Scheme.
He pointed out that there was dearth of scientists in the DRDO. For instance, Russia had as many as 1,200 scientists working on diesel engines and in Germany the number was 1,446; whereas with the DRDO it was only 10.
It could not be expected of the DRDO to take up research in basic and applied sciences, and therefore, it was encouraging the research scholars and the educational institutions to take up such projects to attain the force multiplier effect.
Direct channel
He further said that any project proposal could be directly brought to the DRDO and if these fulfilled the criteria set by the organisation they were sure to get funding.
He said Annamalai University, through its expertise and infrastructure facilities, had proved its worth in already having executed DRDO projects to the tune of Rs.60 lakh and the slew of the latest projects was its second phase of research assignments.
Mr. Sivakumar also stated that Annamalai University could send a team of professors, representing multi-disciplinary streams, to the DRDO to identify the suitable projects. The DRDO would also arrange for their visit to certain laboratories to help them in this endeavour.
Mr. Sivakumar suggested that the university explore the prospects of capturing the nano-technology market as in the case of information technology.
Vice-Chancellor M. Ramanathan called upon the faculty to seize the opportunity provided by the DRDO and take up projects that would bring about public good.
War preparedness would require innovative projects and even health care services during war time would acquire special significance. He was glad that the university was associated with such defence-related works.
V. Balasubramanian, Professor, Department of Manufacturing Engineering, said that the DRDO had earmarked four projects such as thermal barrier coating, improving erosion and corrosion in naval grade alloys, evaluating armour steel welds at sub-zero temperature and preparing high-strength aluminium alloys.
B. Palaniappan, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, said that when the wind was blowing two options were open: either to build walls or to set up windmills. He hoped the faculty would naturally plump for the latter.
R. Rajendran of Gas Turbine Research Establishment, Bengaluru, K. Sridhar of the Naval Material Research Laboratory, Mumbai, and K. Raghukandan, Head of Department of Manufacturing Engineering participated.
