DRDO releases list of technology priority areas to encourage R&D within the industry and academia

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) organised an ‘Anusandhaan Chintan Shivir’ in New Delhi on June 27, 2023, with the aim to encourage Defence R&D within the industry and academia. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan was the Chief Guest at the event.

A list of 75 technology priority areas were released on the occasion. The list identified by the DRDO is further divided into 403 technological categories, which further spread out to 1,295 current & future technology development tasks. The technology priority areas, as listed in DRDO Technology Foresight 2023, includes, Additive Manufacturing, Aero Structures, Aerodynamics, Antennas, Armoured & Combat Vehicles, Materials, Missile Systems, Multi-Barrel Rockets, Protective Clothing & Gears, Radome Technologies, Sonar Technologies, Space Technologies, Unmanned Air Vehicles, Unmanned Ground Vehicles, Underwater Defence Technologies etc…

Unveiling the 75 technology priority areas will provide a major fillip to the defence manufacturing sector by encouraging the industry to indigenise and innovate on defence technologies in order to place India on the self-reliance trajectory; thereby, promoting military technology design & development in the country through engagement with industry and academia.

The DRDO Technology Foresight 2023 listing all areas, categories and technology development activities was also unveiled. The document identifies the technology areas on which various laboratories of DRDO are currently working. It is available on www.drdo.gov.in.  The list of activities identifies future technology areas that are required for development of defence systems and defence R&D for strengthening the security of the nation. The webpage will list major technology tasks envisaged soon for the defence R&D needs. Industry and academia is given the listing of various establishments of DRDO working in the respective areas, thereby establishing a seamless channel of understanding between various stakeholders. 

The DRDO with its network of laboratories and centres is deeply engaged in development of defence technologies covering various disciplines, like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems, instrumentation, missiles, advanced computing simulation, special materials, naval systems, life sciences, training information systems and modern agriculture technologies. Achieving self-reliance in critical defence technologies and systems through development of state-of-the-art weapon systems and equipment is one of the core activities of DRDO. DRDO has been interacting with various Defence ecosystem stakeholders to foster the Industry & Academia cooperation to develop new technologies.