The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has handed over 12 Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology (LATOTs) for eight defence products to industry partners during the inaugural session of SAMANVAY 2025, a two-day industry synergy meet organised by the Electronics and Communication Systems (ECS) Cluster of DRDO in Bengaluru on 29 October 2025. The event, attended by over 150 industry partners, aims to inform and engage industries—particularly MSMEs and start-ups—about DRDO’s industry-friendly policies and initiatives in line with the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. Virtually inaugurating the meet, Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO, said the organisation is uniting innovation and industry to empower Indian defence manufacturing for a self-reliant future. From research laboratories to real-world applications, DRDO is working with industry partners to develop indigenised solutions for the Armed Forces, realising the government’s vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’, he added. Dr Kamat further noted that DRDO has established Industry Interaction Groups at all its laboratories, centres, and headquarters to enhance understanding of DRDO’s procedures and facilitate collaboration with industry. Padma Vibhushan and former DG, CSIR, Dr R.A. Mashelkar, the Guest of Honour, delivered a lecture on ‘Resurgence of Innovative India: The Challenge and the Strategy’, highlighting how innovation, industry, and research institutions can collaborate to achieve transformational growth. Dr B.K. Das, Director General, ECS, commended the industries for their participation and urged start-ups to present innovative ideas for large-scale systems. He assured government support and encouraged major industries to mentor start-ups and MSMEs, helping them transform their ideas into viable products. SAMANVAY 2025 includes 10 thematic sessions focused on industry partnerships, MSMEs, start-ups, and development–production collaborations. Discussions will cover strengthening the defence R&D ecosystem, DRDO’s policy reforms, and the challenges and opportunities ahead for the Indian defence sector.