Pune: The Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Pune, has entered into a strategic partnership with Kinetic Communications Limited (KCL) to drive joint research, innovation, and skill development in critical technology domains.
As a premier deemed university under the Department of Defence Research & Development, Defence Institute of Advanced Technology has consistently been at the forefront of advanced defence education and research.
This new partnership with KCL, a flagship company under the Kinetic Group, reflects the growing momentum behind industry-academia collaboration in achieving the national vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
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The MoU signing event was held at DIAT’s Pune campus and featured the presence of Padmshree Dr Arun Firodia, Chairman of the Kinetic Group, and Dr Deepak Shikarpur, Independent Director, KCL.
Representing DIAT were Dr BHVS Narayanan Murthy, Vice-Chancellor, Prof Sangeeta Kale, Dean (Sponsored Research), and senior leadership from academics and research including Dean (Academics), Dean (Student Affairs), Director-CTP, and the Head of the Electronics Engineering Department.
Key Areas of DIAT and KCL Collaboration
The DIAT-KCL collaboration is structured around the following core focus areas:
- Joint Research in Emerging Technologies: Collaborative R&D initiatives in electronics, green energy, and sensor technologies to create solutions tailored for defence and industrial applications.
- Enhanced Defence Communication Systems: Developing next-generation secure communication and connectivity solutions for India’s defence infrastructure.
- Establishment of the “Kinetic Chair at DIAT: A proposed academic position designed to drive interdisciplinary research and excellence in innovation, funded by Kinetic Communications.
- Internships and Placements: Offering DIAT students real-world exposure and placement opportunities across various Kinetic Group companies.
This strategic engagement aims to not only accelerate the translation of academic research into practical technologies but also build a pipeline of highly skilled professionals ready to serve India’s defence and industrial sectors.
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Speaking at the event, Dr. Arun Firodia emphasized the vital role that academic institutions like DIAT play in shaping India’s innovation landscape. “By working together, we are laying the foundation for world-class, self-reliant technology development in defence and related sectors,” he said.
Echoing this sentiment, Dr. B.H.V.S. Narayanan Murthy, Vice-Chancellor of DIAT, highlighted the transformative potential of such partnerships: “Industry-academia collaboration is essential to harness talent, research, and infrastructure in a way that meets the national needs for indigenous defence technologies and sustainable development.”
Both institutions underscored their commitment to promoting technological self-reliance, skill development, and interdisciplinary research, aligned with India’s growing emphasis on national security and innovation-led industrial growth.
The Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Pune, is a specialized research and education institution under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. Focused on applied science and engineering for defence technologies, DIAT has emerged as a center of excellence for nurturing future-ready defence scientists and technologists.
