DRDO to open centres in academic institutes

New Delhi, July 25 (IANS) The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) plans to set up advanced technology centres in prominent academic institutes including IITs, parliament was told Friday.

There will be one centre in IIT-Bombay for research in advanced propulsion technologies and next generation aero engine technologies, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley told the Lok Sabha.

Another centre at Jadavpur University in Kolkata will work on "Unmanned Autonomous Soldier-Assist Technologies", he said.

DRDO was organising technical workshops with research faculty and scientists and negotiating with institutes for establishing these Advanced Technology Centres, he said.

"Research focus areas, existing capabilities and need for additional research facilities are assessed for establishing these centres," Jaitley added.

The DRDO established the Research and Innovation Centre at IIT-Chennai in 2012.