HAL has identified 111 technologies to fund and pursue its Research and Technology Development.
“Technology identification and funding innovation remains a focus area for HAL. The company so far has filed over 300 patents in just over two years to protect its intellectual property developed at a large investment and efforts,” said Dr R K Tyagi, Chairman HAL.
HAL has also created R&D corpus, earmarking 10 per cent of operational profit after tax, to promote technology development within the company.
“To work on new technologies the company has taken a strategic move to bring all 10 research and development (R&D) centres under the ambit of Committee of Institutional Network (COIN) to ensure synergy among these centres of HAL spread across the country,” he said.
As part of aggressive interaction with academia, HAL has entered into MOUs for technology collaboration with IITs.
“As a matter of fact, the company has entered into collaboration with IIT, Kanpur for rotary unmanned systems, IIT Kharagpur for avionics and electronic warfare systems, IIT Roorkee for aircraft subsystem research and with IIT, Bombay for the communications systems. HAL also works with Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, DRDO laboratories and private industries for various R&D activities,” Tyagi said.
On Wednesday, HAL was presented with SCOPE (Standing Conference of Public Enterprises) meritorious award for R&D, Technology Development and Innovation. Dr Tyagi and T Suvarna Raju, Director (Design and Development) received the award on behalf of HAL.
Speaking after receiving the award, Dr Tyagi said “HAL believes that the key differentiator in today’s warfare is going to be the home grown platforms and therefore R&D activities of organizations like HAL would go a long way in making India self-reliant on technology front in the defence sector.”
“HAL’s R&D centres are dedicated to design and develop aircraft, helicopters, small engines, aircraft accessories and avionics”, says Dr. Tyagi,” he added.