Chennai, May 2 (FN Agency) The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) today organised a workshop on Next Generation Laser Technologies as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Office of Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research (IC&SR), IIT-M. The key objective was to bring together experts from across the country and discuss how India can advance in the field of Laser Systems and develop the technology indigenously. The workshop was organized by the DRDO Industry Academia–Ramanujan Centre of Excellence (DIA-RCoE), IIT-M , and the Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT-M. The workshop provided an opportunity to the research scholars, scientists, next-generation faculty and industry captains to know about this disruptive technology which is going to be a game changer in defence technology. Considering the domination of drones in the sky and in the sea, lasers are being explored for weapon, communication and many more applications.
In order to achieve ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in this domain, the workshop intends to lay a clear approach for futuristic development after brainstorming and panel discussion among the eminent professors, industry experts, scientists and researchers for development of technology and systems for our defence services. Addressing the workshop, DRDO Director General (Technology Management) Haribabu Srivastava said “The speed with which other countries are moving forward in this technology is tremendous and we need to move fast as well and reduce the gap between India and rest of the world. We need to take current capabilities to where the world is today and marshall the resources required to achieve this”. The technology should be home-grown and not imported, he said and stressed the need to prepare a road map along with sharable with various Institutions who have domain expertise. In his address, Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister, said “We have to develop technologies on a timeline similar to the other countries.”
Laser is a key technology with enormous applications in areas ranging from healthcare and manufacturing, especially precision manufacturing and the defence sector. Weaponisation of laser has already begun with an example being the Iron Dome project of Israel, which has now been upgraded with lasers, he said. Dr Satheesh Reddy said “We need to make not only the technology, but also the critical sub-systems and components in India. We need to look at a synergistic approach between different institutions.” IIT-M Director Prof.V.Kamakoti said “we need to establish a ‘Defence Incubator’ that will develop technologies not only for the strategic sectors, but will also have civilian uses.” “The civilian applications will lead to commercialization, which will generate funds to ensure sustainability of the products being developed. ‘Atmanirbhar’ can be achieved only when defence sector products have a civilian component as well”, he added.