CDS launches India’s first Tri Services Academia Technology Symposium at Manekshaw Centre
The first edition of the Tri-Services Academia Technology Symposium (T-SATS) was inaugurated today at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan. The effort aims to integrate the Armed Forces and academia to co-develop innovative, indigenous technologies that would be suited to India's defence requirements.
The meeting witnessed extensive representation of Directors, Department Heads, and students from 62 institutions, comprising IISc, IITs, IIITs, and some of the top private universities.
Welcoming the symposium, General Chauhan referred to the changing nature of war in which traditional and non-traditional spaces are coming together ever more. He emphasised the imperative need for synergistic and cutting-edge technological responses, while emphasising the crucial role of academia, startups, and industry in informing future doctrines, platforms, and indigenous systems. He also emphasised the need for a whole-of-nation approach to make India a world leader in next-generation defence technologies.
Coinciding with the symposium, the Technology Exhibition showcasing 43 shortlisted academic innovations was launched. These projects, screened by subject matter experts of the three Services, are being considered for possible defence applications. Innovative ideas with promise will be adopted for joint R&D work and potential funding support.
One of the principal highlights of the event was a chain of 95 formal one-to-one meetings between academic innovators and Service officials. These behind-closed-doors sessions allowed academic groups to showcase R&D concepts, gather strategic inputs, and discuss the conversion of ideas into useful defence products. These meetings will resume on 23 September 2025.
On the first day, MoUs were exchanged with numerous top-ranking institutions, including:
• Ajeenkya DY Patil University
• Gujarat National Law University
• IIT Madras
• Manipal Academy of Higher Education
• MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences
• Nirma University
• Oriental Institute of Science and Technology
• Rashtriya Raksha University
• National Research Development Corporation
Specialised sessions provided depth to the proceedings. The seminar on "Operational Conditions and Technology Needs of the Services" studied emergent threats and highlighted mission-oriented cooperation. Another on "Understanding the R&D Ecosystem in Academia" demanded structured and defence-focused research designs.
Inspired by the theme "Vivek va Anusandhan se Vijay" (Victory through Wisdom and Research), T-SATS represents a pathbreaking move towards establishing robust, sustainable connections between the Armed Forces and India's large reservoir of academic talent. The symposium seeks to cohesively convert India's intellectual capital into defence solutions of the future, enhancing national security through innovation.
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