Antony asks DRDO scientists to 'shed old mindsets'

Hyderabad, Mar 25 : Defence Minister AK Antony today asked Defence esearch Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists to "shed old mindsets" nd reorient themselves to face the challenges brought in by rapid pace of lobalisation.

Addressing DRDO scientists after a tour of its laboratories in Hyderabad, Antony aid: DRDO cannot remain insulated from the changes taking place around it and as to re-configure and adjust itself to the changing environment.

"Rapid advances in science and technology require that the DRDO adjusts its rganisational structure and goals to new situations and new requirements and in he process shed old mindsets," he added.

Antony dwelt at length on the changing times and their myriad dimensions on ecurity, economy and organizations.

"The political and economic dynamics of relationships between the countries, oday, both regional and global, are constantly changing. On the one side, this orces us to constantly reappraise conventional and non-conventional threats to ur national security. On the other, the impact of globalisation requires that we eassess and adjust to new economic relationships," he said.

"DRDO will have to actively increase its interaction with both the public and rivate sectors for technology transfers and research and development in view of he policy of the government to give the private industry an enhanced role in the efence sector," Antony said.

A major instrument to implement this is our offset policy, which requires foreign endors involved in large projects to actively invest in Indian firms and joint entures, he added.

Antony said that in the long run India must reduce considerably its dependence n foreign suppliers for its strategic requirements.

ANI