DRDO Hosts MSME Conclave to Boost Defence R&D in UP

08 Sep 2025 CW Team

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), through its Defence Technology and Test Centre (DTTC) in Lucknow, organised a day-long MSME and Start-up Conclave on 6 September 2025 at its Amausi campus. The event aimed to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing in Defence R&D and production, accelerating development within the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor.

Over 100 participants from Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), start-ups, and Laghu Udhyog Bharati took part in discussions centred on skill development, R&D funding, technical consultancy, and technology development and transfer by DRDO.

In his inaugural address, the Chairman of DRDO highlighted DTTC as a visionary initiative of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, now delivering tangible outcomes for India's defence ecosystem. He encouraged MSMEs to actively engage in defence innovation, noting that DRDO offers a wide array of technologies and industry-focused policies to support such efforts. He reaffirmed DRDO’s commitment to providing all necessary assistance to ensure India becomes Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) and achieves the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, in a message, congratulated both DRDO and the participating MSMEs for their efforts in advancing the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He praised the vital role played by MSMEs in driving indigenisation and innovation in the defence sector.

Prominent dignitaries at the event included:

Dr R.V. Hara Prasad, Director General (Naval Systems & Materials)
Dr L.C. Mangal, Director General (Technology Management)
Dr Mayank Dwivedi, Director General (Human Resources)

The conclave underscored DRDO’s continued emphasis on integrating MSMEs and start-ups into the defence supply chain, thereby strengthening India’s indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities and enhancing its strategic autonomy.

Equipment

11 Dec 2025

Caterpillar Debuts Three New Cat Excavators at EXCON 2025

Caterpillar Inc., a global leader in construction and mining machinery, strengthened its commitment to India’s infrastructure growth with the debut of three new Cat® hydraulic excavators at EXCON 2025, held from December 9–13 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre. The new models—Cat 321, Cat 322 and Cat 324—mark a significant step forward in delivering efficient, digital-ready equipment tailored for India’s evolving construction needs.Designed to support sustainability and productivity on modern jobsites, the machines feature advanced powertrains and intelligent electrohy..

JK Tyre Expands OTR Lineup with Four New Launches at EXCON 2025

JK Tyre & Industries, one of India’s leading tyre manufacturers, introduced four new Off-the-Road (OTR) tyres at the 13th edition of CII EXCON 2025, South Asia’s largest construction equipment exhibition, underway at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre. The latest additions strengthen the company’s OTR portfolio and reaffirm its focus on delivering advanced mobility solutions for construction, mining and industrial operations.The new tyres were unveiled by R Mukhopadhyay, Director (R&D), JK Tyre. Among the highlights was the debut of the SKY GRIP, a specialised tyre des..

ACE, Sanghvi Movers Ink MOU to Boost India-Made Heavy Crane Adoption

Action Construction Equipment (ACE), the world’s largest pick-and-carry crane manufacturer and a leading Indian construction equipment maker, has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with Sanghvi Movers, Asia’s largest and the world’s fifth-largest crane rental company. The partnership aims to accelerate the deployment of indigenously manufactured heavy slew cranes, particularly truck cranes and crawler cranes, across large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects in India.The alliance aligns strongly with the Government of India’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” and “M..