DRDO Dedicates Young Scientists Laboratories to the Nation

Technology

New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi January two in Bengaluru dedicated to the nation the Young Scientists laboratories formed by DRDO to start focused research in advanced technologies.

DRDO has taken this important step of empowering youth for the purpose of achieving self reliance in the area of niche advanced technologies.

This lays the foundation for research and development of futuristic technologies. Selected young scientists of DRDO, under the age of 35 years have been given this opportunity to work in identified research areas.

The move to set up such laboratories came after the Prime Minister had at the DRDO award function on August 24 asked DRDO to empower youth by giving them decision making powers and challenging research opportunities.

As a follow up to this, DRDO identified five technology areas for these laboratories. The identified areas of work for these laboratories are Artificial intelligence, Quantum technologies, Cognitive technologies, Asymmetric technologies and Smart materials.

DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories, (DYSLs), are located at Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai Kolkata and Hyderabad. Each lab is working on a key advanced technology of importance to the development of futuristic defence systems. Research in the area of rapidly evolving Artificial Intelligence will be carried out at Bengaluru. The all-important area of Quantum Technology will be based out of IIT Mumbai. The future is dependent on Cognitive Technologies and IIT Chennai will house the lab embarking in this area of research. New and futuristic area of Asymmetric Technologies, which will change the way wars are fought, will be based out of campus of Jadhavpur University, Kolkata. The research in hot and critical area of Smart Materials and their applications will be based out of Hyderabad.

The Directors of these laboratories were selected independently by a committee chaired by Principal Scientific Advisor to the government and to enable these laboratories realize the goals, the Directors of these laboratories are empowered with Financial and Administrative authorities at par with any director of a DRDO laboratory.

The establishment of DYSLs for work on Advanced and Future technologies will be a big leap forward for DRDO from goal of making India Self Reliant to Future Ready in defence technologies.