Naval innovation and Indigenisation Organisation

Recently, Defence Minister of India launched the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) through an online webinar.

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.

Background

• The Draft Defence Acquisition Policy 2020 (DAP 20) envisages Service Headquarters establishing an Innovation & Indigenisation Organisation within existing resources.
• Indian Navy already has a functional Directorate of Indigenisation (DoI) and the new structures created will build upon the ongoing indigenisation initiatives, as well as focus on innovation.

About Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO)

• Interaction with various stakeholders:
• The NIIO puts in place dedicated structures for the end-users to interact with academia and industry.
• These structures strive towards fostering innovation and indigenisation for self-reliance in defence in keeping with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

A three-tiered organisation:

• Naval Technology Acceleration Council (N-TAC): It will bring together the twin aspects of innovation and indigenisation and provide apex level directives.
• A working group under the N-TAC will implement the projects.
• A Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC): It has been created for induction of emerging disruptive technology in an accelerated time frame

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• 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.
• However, there is a heavy reliance on imports for armaments, called the ‘fight’ component.
• The Navy has an in-house design bureau, which has made progress in designing the ‘float’ and ‘move’ (propulsion) components.
• An online discussion forum for engaging the domestic industry and academic institutes has been created in partnership with Raksha Shakti University (RSU).

Source: pib