DRDO, NASSCOM Sign MoU on Information Technology

New Delhi, June 13 (UNI) The Defence Research&Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) to strengthen cooperation and increase collaboration with the Indian IT industry.

This MoU -- an initiative to further innovation and the development of Intellectual Property in the domestic market -- is expected to help establish a successful working relationship between DRDO and the Indian IT industry and advance issues of mutual interest.

The initiative -- between the Defence Ministry's research wing and the country's premier chamber of commerce for software and services -- will also strengthen cooperation for enabling a long-term involvement of IT software companies in DRDO's development projects.

Speaking on the occasion of the MoU signing ceremony here today, DRDO Director General M Natrajan observed that the Defence research organisation had taken a number of initiatives for promoting increased partnership of the private sector industry in the development of major systems.

''As the modern military systems are becoming increasingly software intensive, we are keen to workout 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 and the like.'' The MoU seeks to facilitate defining a long-term strategic partnership with the IT industry and to take further actions for finalising methodologies for its effective implementation, Mr Natrajan further averred.

NASSCOM President Kiran Karnik said creating upstream linkages with the Indian R&D institutions was a key component of NASSCOM's focus on developing India's innovation eco-system.

DRDO, he said, had been responsible for developing a number of leading technologies in multi-focus areas spanning across aero-space, control systems, communication and the like making it ''the obvious choice'' for such a partnership.

Through this MoU, the DRDO-IT industry partnership could leverage the experience and best practices gained through these engagements, he added.

UNI