Several applications of immense use to the common man being developed by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) will be available to the public in the next five years, A. Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Brahmos Aerospace Ltd., said on Monday.
He was delivering the inaugural address at a three-day international conference on nanoscience, engineering and technology at Sathyabama University in Sholinganallur. From unbreakable bones in the human body, unmanned aerial surveillance to reconnaissance vehicles the size of a humming bird, all could be possible in the future.
The DRDO had created a number of equipment, kits and other devices over the past few years, including a typhoid detection kit, Sanjeevani – life detection kit to trace people trapped underneath buildings during earthquakes and many other devices.
Stating that research on creating applications using nanoscience was going on in the country for only for a few years, Dr. Pillai said that in five years, a number of devices that could be used by the people for enhancing the quality of their lives would be available. India, along with The Netherlands, Russia, Italy and Brazil among other nations were in the minor league of nations in terms of nanoscience, technology and research, while the dominant nations were the U.S., Japan, Germany, South Korea and Taiwan. Worldwide, the market of final products incorporating nanotechnology now was $254 billion and this would go up to $ 3 trillion by 2020 and emerging economies and countries like India had to use this opportunity, Dr. Pillai said. The Centre had already created the Nanomission and its final objective was to increase India's competitive edge through technological excellence. This could be achieved through a synergy of the industry, the academia, research and development laboratories and large scale infrastructure at special zones.
A.K. Tyagi, Head, Surface and Nano Division, Materials Science Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, received an award for excellence in nanoscience and technology. Dr. Pillai and Jeppiar, Chancellor of the private university handed over the award, that included a medal, a citation and Rs.1 lakh.
G. Sundararajan, Director, International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials, delivered the key-note address. Dra Erlina Handal Vega, Minister of Education, Republic of El Salvador, delivered a special address and lauded India's commitment to science and knowledge.
