NASSCOM inks MoU with Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO)

Will focus on increasing collaboration between DRDO and the IT industry to develop leading edge technologies

NASSCOM, the premier chamber of commerce for software and services industry in India, today announced that it has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) to strengthen co-operation and increase collaboration between the Indian IT industry and DRDO.

NASSCOM has focused on developing an innovation ecosystem for the Indian IT industry. This MoU is an initiative to further innovation and the development of IP in the domestic market in India. The MOU will help establish a successful working relationship between DRDO and the Indian IT industry and will advance issues of mutual interest. This initiative will also strengthen co-operation for enabling a long term involvement of IT software companies in DRDO’s development projects.

Mr. Kiran Karnik, President, NASSCOM said, "Creating upstream linkages with the Indian R&D institutions is a key part of NASSCOM’s focus on developing India’s innovation ecosystem. DRDO has been responsible for developing a number of leading technologies in multiple focus areas spanning across aerospace, control systems, communication etc, which makes it the obvious choice for this partnership. As the Indian IT industry moves up the value chain, these areas are both of interest and relevance."

He further added, "Over the last few years, the IT industry has also evolved extensively and developed rich experience in executing complex engagements particularly in the areas of engineering and communications. Through this MoU, the IT industry would leverage the experience and best practices gained through these engagements in partnership with DRDO."

Speaking on the occasion Shri M. Natrajan, Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri & Director General Defence R&D said, "DRDO has taken a lot of initiatives for promoting increased partnership of private sector industry in the development of major systems. He said as the modern military systems are becoming increasingly software intensive, we are keen to work out a long-term strategic arrangement with NASSCOM to enable Indian IT industry to partner DRDO labs in various software development activities mainly related to systems like Radars, Electronic Warfare Systems, Sonars, Flight Control, Avionics, Missile Systems, Command and Control Systems, Communication System etc’."

He further added, "The MoU that we (NASSCOM and DRDO) have signed seeks to facilitate defining long term strategic partnership with IT industry and to take further actions for finalizing methodologies for its effective implementation."

Source : Equity Bulls

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