In line with the Government's vision of achieving Atmanirbharta and Viksit Bharat, DRDO conducted an Industry Outreach Programme at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi on December 1, 2025. The programme covered DRDO laboratories of North India and their Industry partners with participation of 220 scientists working on niche and critical defence technologies from 18 DRDO laboratories and 271 industry leaders from a diverse mix of defence industries.

Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V. Kamat was the Chief Guest and Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar was the Guest of Honour. During the event, a new procedure was released for implementing 'DRDO's ToT Policy-2025'.

The highlight of the programme was the open house discussion, wherein the distinguished guests and panel of DRDO experts along with the Secretary (Defence Production) took on the various queries, concerns and suggestions from industry and resolved to find solutions to the complex and challenging issues involved in indigenous defence production involving PSUs and private industries. The event also included in-house brainstorming involving various corporate directorates of DRDO HQ and scientists from DRDO laboratories. The corporate directors elucidated on various policies and procedures involving indigenous research projects in DRDO laboratories and their outcome for the benefit of the services.

In his address, the Chairman, DRDO expressed optimism in the capabilities of the Indian industry, exuding confidence that in the next five years, the various government policies will mature and that indigenous defence industrial ecosystem will grow manifold, thereby realising the vision of Atmanirbharta. He outlined various opportunities for the industries in partnering with DRDO towards meeting the technology needs of the Armed Forces and other government agencies.

The Secretary (Defence Production) highlighted the policies of the Government in promoting indigenous production and stressed that true self-reliance can be achieved only when the full cycle of designing to manufacturing and production at scale is carried out in-house.

Setting the tone for the interaction, DG (Production Coordination & Services Interaction) Dr (Mrs) Chandrika Kaushik highlighted the various initiatives of DRDO towards promoting indigenisation and the growth of defence industrial ecosystem. She highlighted the rising trend, wherein India is now emerging from being an importer of defence equipment to that of a net exporter and encouraged the Indian industries towards sustained R&D and deeper collaboration with DRDO.