In the midst of the changing nature of war, close collaboration between the defense sector, academia, and the defense industry is essential to accelerate the development and adoption of indigenous technology: Defense Minister

The Defence Minister recently stated that the rapid changes in the nature of warfare worldwide—highlighting the growing importance of cyber, hybrid, and autonomous systems—necessitate deep collaboration among the defence sector, academia, and the defence industry to develop and swiftly adopt indigenous technology. He emphasized that relying solely on government initiatives cannot ensure timely availability of indigenous technology; universities, research institutions, and private industry must be brought together on an integrated platform.

In this context, the Minister cited ongoing research laboratories between DRDO and leading universities. He noted that successful collaborations are already yielding results in AI‑based decision‑support systems, cyber‑security frameworks, and autonomous drones. He further added that expanding this public‑private partnership model can shorten the cycle of testing, production, and deployment of new technologies.

The Minister also clarified that to promote the development of indigenous technology, the industry must be incentivised through tax concessions, grants for research and development, and the creation of cloud‑friendly infrastructure. He assured that if collaboration among defence, education, and industry is strengthened, it will not only enhance India’s strategic autonomy but also bring significant benefits in cost‑effectiveness and job creation.