Senior officials from IIT Dharwad held crucial discussions with Karnataka's IT-BT minister Priyank Kharge this week. The meeting focused on the roadmap for a newly established Centre of Excellence in Defence Technology and Industry 5.0.
Formal Alignment for National Significance
According to a release from IIT Dharwad, this interaction marked the formal alignment between the state government and the premier institute. Both parties are working to operationalise a nationally significant centre that will concentrate on next-generation defence systems.
Key Focus Areas
The Centre of Excellence will target several advanced technological domains. These include advanced manufacturing processes and human-machine collaboration. The centre will also emphasise AI-led cyber-physical systems and secure indigenous technologies.
These initiatives align directly with the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India defence missions. The proposed centre aims to strengthen India's self-reliance in critical defence technologies.
Strategic Hub in North Karnataka
The CoE will be anchored at the dhaRti foundation of IIT Dharwad. This positioning aims to establish North Karnataka as a strategic deep-tech and defence innovation hub. The foundation serves as IIT Dharwad's research park facility.
Collaborative Mission-Driven Platform
Officials envision the centre as a mission-driven platform that brings together diverse stakeholders. Academia will collaborate with defence public sector undertakings and micro, small, and medium enterprises. Startups, system integrators, and global original equipment manufacturers will also participate.
This collaborative approach aims to accelerate technology readiness level-driven research and development. The centre will facilitate prototyping, validation, and deployment of defence technologies.
Key Personnel Involved
IIT Dharwad director Prof Venkappayya Desai led the institute's delegation. Rakshit Kalyani, chief operating officer of dhaRti Foundation, participated in the discussions. Prof Somashekara MA, associate dean for research and development-external, also joined the team that met Minister Kharge.
Phased Implementation Plan
The centre is likely to commence operations in phases. Strategic guidance and oversight will come from multiple government bodies. The department of IT, BT and electronics of the Karnataka state government will provide direction. The Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society will also contribute to oversight functions.
Rakshit Kalyani will lead the operational aspects as chief operating officer of dhaRti foundation. This foundation operates as IIT Dharwad's research park, providing infrastructure for the ambitious project.
The establishment of this Centre of Excellence represents a significant step toward technological self-sufficiency in defence. It combines academic expertise with government support and industry collaboration. North Karnataka stands to benefit from increased research activity and potential economic development through this initiative.
