DRDO to commercialise its technologies

CHENNAI - In order to cash in on the opportunities available for its technologies in the paramilitary and civilian sectors, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has decided to float a commercial arm shortly, a top official said Tuesday.

“Our range of products is wide. We have a specific user - the armed forces. Over a period of time, new users like paramilitary forces are coming up. We also see civilian spinoff benefits out of our products. Hence, we are planning a marketing arm,” DRDO director general V.K.Saraswat told reporters here.

He said DRDO has transferred technology for its products to around 15 units and has earned around Rs.20 crore from the deals.

“Once our products get into the user industry, then the revenue potential is around Rs.70 crore,” he said.

Saraswat said the DRDO can customise some of the weapons used by army for the paramilitary forces.

“However, the market is very competitive,” he added.

The other product DRDO is betting on is its bio-digesters or bio-toilets, where human waste is biodegraded by bacteria. The product is particularly useful for the railways as the droppings from running coaches have been found to corrode the rail tracks.

The DRDO has already licenced the technology to around eight companies. A DRDO official told IANS that the Lakshadweep administration is interested in sourcing the bio-toilets.

The DRDO has also already started licensing out the technology for ready-to-eat packaged food to several private sector companies.

Queried about the poor response from foreign companies to the condition of sourcing of components from Indian companies, Saraswat said: “The 30 percent offset clause is the starting point. What we look at is the 30 percent of the order value to be sourced from India by the overseas suppliers. It can benefit other industrial sectors.”

On the failure of Agni-II missile, he said the reason was a component problem.

Saraswat said the DRDO is also working to increase from around 170 km to 300 km the distance at which the anti-ballastic missiles would be able to intercept and destroy the enemy missile mid-air.

On the induction of light combat aircraft (LCA) in the Indian Air Force, he said the initial operational clearance is expected this month.

Stating that the DRDO and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) work together in areas of mutual interest, Saraswat denied that his organisation is building satellites for strategic use.

Meanwhile, the DRDO has started collaborative research work first with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras by taking 30,000 sq.ft space at the IIT Madras Technology Park here.

“We will have around 20 people in the research centre that would work on cyber security, nano material, aeronautics and others,” Saraswat said.