Chennai: In a major push towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and self-reliance in defence technologies, the Indian Army’s Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) has entered into a partnership with IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation to accelerate indigenous engineering capabilities and reduce dependence on external sources for critical military technologies.
The collaboration aims to identify, develop, and deploy indigenous solutions tailored to the evolving operational and maintenance needs of the Army. By integrating academic expertise, industry capabilities, and military insights, the partnership seeks to bridge the gap between frontline requirements and cutting-edge research.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising this landmark collaboration was signed in Chennai on Thursday. As part of the initiative, a Nodal Indigenisation Centre (NIC) has been established at Avadi near Chennai, leveraging the region’s industrial ecosystem and reinforcing the Tamil Nadu Defence Corridor as a hub for defence manufacturing and innovation. The initiative is facilitated through the HQ Base Workshop Group and the Directorate of Indigenisation of the Indian Army.
Dr MJ Shankar Raman, CEO of IITM Pravartak, said, “India’s journey toward self-reliance in defence technologies requires strong synergy between the armed forces, academia, and innovation ecosystems. This partnership is a significant step toward accelerating indigenous solutions that are both technologically robust and operationally relevant.”
Maj Gen Lalit Kapoor, Commander, Base Workshop Group (EME), added, “By working closely with IITM Pravartak, the Corps of EME aims to enhance operational readiness, upgrade legacy platforms with advanced technologies, and develop niche capabilities for future roles, while significantly reducing dependence on external sources.”
Key focus areas under the partnership will include co-developing indigenous technologies, prototype validation, field evaluation, and productisation, with emphasis on sensing systems, cyber-physical systems, and autonomous technologies. Startups and academic partners will be encouraged to participate, with the Army providing operational requirements and real-world validation.
Lt Gen Karanbir Singh Brar (Retd), Distinguished Strategic Advisor at IITM Pravartak, said, “Indigenisation is an operational necessity. This collaboration combines Army domain expertise with academic innovation, providing startups and industry easier access to refine technologies for India’s unique operational environments.”
A Joint Steering Committee from both organisations will oversee strategic alignment and project selection. The partnership is expected to strengthen India’s domestic defence ecosystem, accelerate the translation of research into deployable technologies, and reinforce Chennai’s position as a key node in the nation’s defence innovation landscape.
