The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur has signed an agreement with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) to jointly work on Research and Development in the Aerospace and Indian Defence sectors. Both institutions have agreed to pursue research & development, co-operate and collaborate in manufacturing and components supply, sub-assemblies and systems in mutually decided areas to address opportunities in both the sectors, stated the officials.

The Executive Director, on behalf of BHEL, Jai Prakash Srivastava has signed the agreement with the Dean of Research & Development, on behalf of IIT Kanpur, AR Harish.

The Director of IIT Kanpur Abhay Karandikar, while explaining the agreement, 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" He added that both the institutions would support their competence to assert collaborated efforts to strengthen the Defence and Aerospace sectors. This will surely accelerate the process towards surveying the integrated approach of growth in these essential sectors for an Atmanirbhar Bharat, he further added.

The Professor of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Kanpur Manindra Agrawal said, "We will work in synergy to develop some crucial indigenized devices, equipment and systems quintessential for attaining self-reliance in these sectors".

The organizations have identified critical technological approaches to cooperation such as UAV engines, anti-unmanned aerial vehicle technologies, cyber security, development of composite fixed-wing UAVs of MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) category, etc.

Through this collaboration, the impetus for the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor initiative will also be provided by IIT Kanpur's technology development and BHEL's manufacturing expertise.

Source: Twitter Handle of IIT Kanpur