Ficci to help sell DRDO's products

An explosive detection kit that can determine threat levels by sniffing out the smallest quantity of explosives, acoustic life detectors to locate people trapped under rubble in the aftermath of disasters and mobile water purification systems.

These are some of the products used by the security forces that will soon be available in the market under a partnership the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has formed with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci).

Launched four months ago, the “Technology Assessment and Commercialisation” initiative was unveiled here today. The initiative aims to set up a framework for introducing the DRDO’s non-sensitive products and spinoff technologies in health care, disaster management, and computing and simulation in the market.

The private sector in India has been receptive to the idea, with Larsen & Toubro, Alkali Metals Ltd and GTL Ltd submitting expressions of interest to Ficci for technology transfer from the defence R&D leader.