IIT Kanpur, BHEL partner to explore R&D opportunities in defence & aerospace sector

Kanpur, Aug 12 (KNN) To provide a boost to India’s defence and aerospace sector, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has signed an agreement with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL).

Under this agreement, both the parties will pursue research & development and collaborate in manufacturing and supplying components, sub-assemblies and systems in key areas.

The MoU was signed by Jai Prakash Srivastava, Executive Director, on behalf of BHEL and AR Harish, Dean of Research & Development, on behalf of IIT Kanpur. 

Speaking about the collaboration, Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur said, “The Defence and Aerospace sectors are two of the most consistently evolving sectors in India. IIT Kanpur has been involved in various strategic partnerships and multi-disciplinary collaborations with government agencies as well as private organizations in these sectors. This agreement with BHEL initiates another such crucial agreement for the institute. Both the organizations would leverage their expertise to assert cohesive efforts in strengthening the Defence and Aerospace sectors of the state as well as the nation.” 

Some of the key areas for collaboration under this partnership include anti-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies, UAV engines, manufacturing of composite fixed-wing UAVs of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) category, cyber security, etc. 

Manindra Agrawal, Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur said, “This agreement with BHEL to work collaboratively on research and development in the Defence and Aerospace domains will strengthen our resolve to create opportunities for growth in these sectors for the state and the nation, as well. We will work in synergy to develop some crucial indigenized devices, equipment and systems quintessential for attaining self-reliance in these sectors.”

This collaboration will also provide impetus to the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor initiative with technology development at IIT Kanpur followed by manufacturing at BHEL. 

P C Jha (Executive Director -BHEL Haridwar Unit), Pervez Ahmad, Rohit Bansal, Manindra Agrawal, Deepu Philip were among those present at the ceremony. 

(KNN Bureau)