Lockheed Martin's IIGP to focus on advance manufacturing

US-based defence major Lockheed Martin on Thursday said its flagship innovations programme in India will focus on areas such as advance manufacturing, cyber security and aerospace.

At present, the defence major, along with the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and industry body Ficci runs -- the India Innovation Growth Programme (IIGP).

The IIGP allows applicants to file in their innovative ideas across industries ranging from agriculture and textiles to defence and healthcare. The DST-Lockheed Martin IIGP is in its 10th year.

According to Keoki Jackson, Chief Technology Officer at Lockheed Martin Corporation: "This partnership has been extremely good with the DST and we hope to continue the programme for at least another decade."

"Moreover, given the success we have had so far, we would like to see if we can continue to grow the programme in focusing on particular areas like advance manufacturing, cyber security and aerospace. These are clearly the areas, where our interests align with interests of India."

The programme aims to enhance the growth and development of India's innovation and entrepreneurial pursuits by launching early stage Indian technologies into the global marketplace.

Currently, IIGP is aimed at promoting technologies that can facilitate in fulfilling several key initiatives by the Indian government like Swachh Bharat, Make in India and Digital India.

"For the first year we had just over a 100 applicants and this year we had over a 1,000 applicants for the programme. In our perspective it (programme) aligns very well with the current government's priorities like Skill India and Start-Up India," Jackson added.

The programme is also supported by Indo-US Science and Technology Forum, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Indo-US S&T Forum, IC2 Institute, University of Texas at Austin and The Indus Entrepreneurs.

The company added that it will continue to explore opportunities in India to foster talent as well as industrial partnership by supporting programmes for innovation, excellence and industrial partnerships.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 125,000 people worldwide. It is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

--IANS

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