Spotlight on Innovation
The University College of Science & Technology (UCSTA), University of Calcutta—a historic cradle of Indian scientific excellence graced by pioneers like Sir C. V. Raman and Satyendra Nath Bose—hosted an exclusive defence research outreach programme on 18th August 2026. Led by Dr. S.C. Bhattacharyya, Director of the DRDO Industry Academia- Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) at the University of Hyderabad (UoH), the event focused on aligning academic innovation with national defence priorities.
Fostering Synergy: Key Highlights
Academic & Industry Engagement: Organized alongside University TPO Shri Krishnendu Banerjee, the visit brought together key faculty including Prof. S.K. Ray (HoD, Polymer Science & Technology), Prof. Dipankar Chattopadhyay, and Prof. Subhasish Roy, alongside industry representatives, research scholars, and post-graduate students.
Core Competencies: UCSTA researchers showcased the campus’s cutting-edge capabilities in advanced polymeric systems, nanomaterials, membranes, metallocenes, and industrial chemical engineering applications.
Keynote Address: At the Prof. Meghnad Saha Auditorium, Dr. Bhattacharyya delivered an insightful talk titled “Fostering Defence Capabilities through Academia & Industry,” outlining the mandate of , with special focus on High Energy Materials.
Project Pathways: The Director detailed the DIA-CoE framework, explaining the mechanics of directed research, mandatory industry participation as Co-PIs, Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), and the complete lifecycle of project formulation, review, and monitoring.
Looking Ahead
The session chaired by Prof. S.K. Ray concluded with a lively Q&A and a high-level strategic discussion. The enthusiastic turnout highlights a shared commitment between UCSTA and DIA-CoE to translate university-level scientific breakthroughs into robust, sovereign defence technologies.