Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation | 14 Aug 2020
Why in News
Recently, the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) has been launched by the Defence Minister of India.
Key Points
- Objective: To foster innovation and indigenisation for self-reliance in defence in keeping with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- It will put in place dedicated structures for the end-users to interact with academia and industry.
- Structure: The NIIO is a three-tiered organisation.
- Naval Technology Acceleration Council (N-TAC) will bring together the twin aspects of innovation and indigenisation and provide apex level directives.
- Working group under the N-TAC will implement the projects.
- Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC) has been created for induction of emerging disruptive technology in an accelerated time frame.
- Indian Navy already has a functional Directorate of Indigenisation (DoI) and the new structures will build upon the ongoing indigenisation initiatives, as well as focus on innovation.
- A compendium (concise collection of information) of Indian Navy’s indigenisation perspective plans titled ‘SWAVLAMBAN’ has also been released.
- The Draft Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020 envisages Service Headquarters establishing an Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation within existing resources.
- The defence minister highlighted the Indian Navy’s significant progress in indigenous design of warships and suggested to focus on design and development of armaments.
- The Navy has an in-house design bureau, which has made progress in designing the ‘float’ and ‘move’ (propulsion) components.
- However, there is a heavy reliance on imports for armaments, called the ‘fight’ component.