An explosive detection kit that can determine
threat levels by sniffing out the smallest
quantity of explosives, acoustic life detectors
to locate people trapped under rubble in
the aftermath of disasters and providing
potable water by using mobile water purification
systems.
These are some of the products being used
the security forces that would soon be available
for sale in the market.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) has forged a Public Private Partnership
(PPP) with Federation of Indian Chambers
of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) to market
its products and dual-use technological
processes.
Launched four months ago, the “Technology
Assessment and Commercialisation” initiative
was unveiled today in the capital by DRDO
and Ficci.
The initiative aims to set up a framework
wherein DRDO"s non-sensitive products and
spin-off technologies in healthcare, disaster
management, and computing and simulation
can be introduced into the market.
The private sector in India has been quite
receptive to this idea, with Larsen and
Toubro, Alkali Metals Ltd, GTL Ltd, etc
having submitted expression of interest
to Ficci for technology transfer from the
defence R&D leader.
Of the 50 DRDO laboratories, 26 are taking
part in this initiative and 200 technologies
have been assessed so far for marketing.
The initiative would eventually zero in
on 40 of the most marketable products and
processes and create business development
models to market them, said Len Denton,
programme manager of IC2 Institute, University
of Texas, Austin. The university is the
programme partner to identify and market
the products.
M Natarajan, scientific advisor to the Defence
Minister, said apart from developing cutting-edge
defence technologies, the DRDO would increasingly
participate in the market to deliver hi-tech
non-military products.
The PPP has taken into account the twin
problems of not compromising classified
information and marketing DRDO products
at the same time, said Dr Prahlada, DRDO"s
R&D chief controller.
A special purpose vehicle (SPV) has been
conceptualised to put 10 products on a fast-track
for marketing and sale. In the next 3-5
years, another 200 DRDO products and their
spin-off technologies can be marketed, he
added.