Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has underscored the evolving landscape of modern warfare, driven by the convergence of kinetic and non-kinetic domains, necessitating advanced and integrated technological solutions. Speaking at the inaugural Tri-Services Academia Technology Symposium (T-SATS) in Delhi, General Chauhan emphasised the pivotal role of academia, startups, and industry in developing indigenous capabilities across platforms, weapons, networks, and doctrines to meet future operational demands.
The symposium, held at the Manekshaw Centre in Delhi Cantonment, brought together directors and heads of departments from academic and premier research institutions, along with students from 62 institutes, including IISc, IITs, IIITs, and private technology institutes. The event aimed to synergise the services-academia research and development ecosystem for the development of niche and futuristic technologies tailored for the Indian armed forces.
General Chauhan inaugurated a technology exhibition showcasing 43 selected innovative exhibits by academia. These innovations were evaluated by subject matter experts from various technology domains of the three services for their potential military applications. Projects showing promise will be considered for R&D collaboration and funding support in the future.
A major highlight of the day was a series of 95 structured one-on-one meetings between academic innovators and service representatives. These closed-door sessions provided a platform for academia to pitch R&D proposals and receive strategic guidance on converting ideas into military-use cases, fostering a collaborative and results-oriented environment. These meetings will continue on Tuesday.
The symposium also witnessed the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with various academic institutes, including Ajeenkya DY Patil University, Gujarat National Law University, Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Nirma University, Oriental Institute of Science and Technology, Rashtriya Raksha University, and the National Research Development Corporation.
Themed ‘Vivek va Anusandhan se Vijay’ or ‘victory through wisdom and research,’ the symposium is a significant step towards fostering deeper integration between academic research capabilities and defence technology requirements. By connecting the armed forces with the vast untapped intellectual and technical capital within Indian academia, T-SATS aims to build a “sustainable and strategic partnership to co-create future-ready solutions for national security.”
General Chauhan’s call for a whole-of-nation approach underscores the need for academia to scale innovation and commit to making India a global leader in next-generation defence technologies. This initiative not only highlights the changing nature of modern warfare but also sets the stage for a collaborative and integrated approach to defence technology development in India.