Ministry of Defence
21-June, 2017 15:53 IST
Text of the Speech of Defence Minister at TECHNOPROM- 2017 in Russia
Following is the full text of the speech of the Minister of Defence, Finance & Corporate Affairs Shri Arun Jaitley at the plenary session of "Make in Russia: Double Purpose Industrialisation" of Technoprom-2017 at Novosibirsk, Russia on Wednesday, 21 June 2017, today:
“It is a great pleasure for me to address the Plenary Session of the 5th International Forum for Technological Development TECHNOPROM. I thank Mr Rogozin and the organizers for the invitation.
I am also delighted to visit the beautiful city of Novosibirsk, which is also the science and technology capital of Russia. I am impressed by the all round development of the city and its stellar contributions to the development of Russia as a whole.
TECHNOPROM has, in the five years since its inception, grown to become a leading international forum in the area of technology with over 50 business events and an impressive 6000 participants. The focus this year on breakthrough technologies in the scientific, technological and innovative fields has established this event as a key forum for insights and business opportunities into leading technological products and technologies.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This year, India and Russia are celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Over the past seven decades, our relations have grown from strength to strength.
For India, relations with Russia are a key foreign policy priority. Russia is been a trusted and time-tested partner.
Since the signing of the Declaration of India-Russia Strategic Partnership in 2000, our bilateral ties have witnessed enhanced levels of cooperation in a wide range of areas. Today, we enjoy vibrant and mutually beneficial political ties, defence and security cooperation, trade and economic partnership, science and technology linkages and cultural exchanges.
Our long standing and wide ranging cooperation with Russia in the field of military technical cooperation has graduated from a simple buyer-seller relationship to one involving joint research, development and production of advanced defence systems. The Brahmos Missile System and the licensed production of advanced Sukhoi 30 aircraft in India are recent highlights of our bilateral cooperation, which today covers practically all areas in defence.
Friends,
I have just co-chaired with Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin the inaugural meeting of the India-Russia High Level Science and Technology Committee. Together, we have resolved to place our scientific and technological cooperation at the centre of our future relationship.
This new mechanism will further energise our partnership by opening up advanced areas of cooperation that will benefit our future generations.
The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, had immediately after forming the Government, launched the flagship ‘Make in India’ initiative to promote manufacturing in India.
We recognize that in today’s fast moving world of technological innovation and information driven business models, manufacturing can thrive only if we are able to establish a symbiotic relationship between innovation and enterprise.
I have been asked to share a few thoughts today about how we intend to develop the defence manufacturing sector, which is one of the key areas identified in the Make in India initiative.
Firstly, we have initiated a series of policy and procedural changes to facilitate tie-ups, including joint ventures and technology partnerships between Indian and foreign companies.
Russian companies, which already have a long experience of working in India and working with India are well placed to take a leading role in this process.
Since the announcement of ‘Make in India’ initiative by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, we have witnessed tremendous and growing enthusiasm and participation from private companies in the area of defence production.
In the days to come, we hope to fully harness the energies, entrepreneurial spirit and enterprise of the private sector in the area of defence manufacturing.
Here again, Russia as India’s largest, oldest and most trusted partner in defence hardware and equipment, would have a comparative advantage in partnering with Indian companies for realizing ‘Make in India’ potential in defence production.
Further, we recognize that technological progress is spread across the spectrum of products from full platforms to the smallest of hardware components or software. We are thus placing great emphasis on development of capacities in the areas of components and sub-systems, with a view to developing a vibrant ecosystem of defence manufacturing.
One way in which we seek to accomplish this is by incentivizing indigenous content, specifically indigenous design, development and manufacturing in our defence procurement. In the latest edition of Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) of 2016, we have introduced a new category of acquisition called ‘Buy (IDDM)’, wherein the first preference would be given to the equipments, which are designed, developed and manufactured within the country. We hope this will encourage Indian companies to invest in R&D and technology.
The new DPP has also made several other provisions for indigenization and greater participation of Indian industry in design, development and manufacturing.
Indian companies are already gearing up by developing capabilities for design and development. In this area too, the cost effective and state of the art technological capabilities of Russian companies can be an important asset.
I invite Russian companies to come forward with proposals for technology transfer to Indian companies and facilitate manufacturing of more advanced components/ parts and sub-systems. This can start with platforms of Russian origin where the requirement is in large numbers and is recurring in nature.
As an incentive, industrial licensing for manufacturing of defence equipments has been significantly liberalized. Now for manufacturing of parts, components, sub-systems, production equipments and testing equipments, no license is required from the Government. Even for the items for which license is required, the initial validity has been increased from 3 years to 15 years. As a result of this liberal approach, the presence of private companies in defence production sector has risen manifold in last two years.
We envisage ‘Make in India’ in defence sector to not only address domestic requirements, but also to enable Indian firms to become part of the global supply chain. Despite India’s significant domestic requirements in defence, manufacturing and business would be sustainable in the longer term only if companies look at global requirements and create economies of scale.
Russian companies may identify some items for which they can set up joint ventures with Indian companies so that these items can be supplied across the world. Keeping this in mind, we have also streamlined the process of export clearances in last two years. India’s export control processes and technology security mechanisms are robust as required in the interest of national security. India is likely to soon become a member of the multilateral Wassenaar Arrangement, which will further catalyse our international engagement.
Another area where Russian industry and business houses can join hands with Indian companies is research and development. We are now giving significant emphasis to technology development and innovation in the defence sector. In the Defence Procurement Procedure-2016, we have streamlined the ‘Make’ procedure to encourage and incentivize design and development of defence equipment and systems. We would welcome partnerships between Indian and Russian companies in this area as well.
Cities such as Bengaluru, Delhi and Hyderabad have design centers of many global defence companies. Bengaluru is fast emerging as an aerospace design hub of the world. Russian companies must take advantage of the large skilled manpower available in India. This would be a win-win situation for companies of both countries.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In the past three years, the government has introduced several path-breaking policy and procedural changes in the defence production sector for encouraging private investment, R&D and indigenization. We are witnessing a significant momentum in industry for setting up manufacturing facilities for defence items.
Russian companies can be natural partners of the Indian companies as most of our defence equipments and inventory are of Russian origin. A large industrial base and supply chain can be created for manufacturing of spare parts and components of such platforms to be made in India by Indian companies either through transfer of technology form Russian OEMs or through joint ventures between Indian and Russian companies.
In March this year, we had organized the largest ever India-Russia Military Industrial Conference in New Delhi. Over 600 business representatives from both countries attended the conference. Discussions between our companies have already begun. Both governments are fully supportive of these partnerships.
Defence is only one possible area of engagement. We would be glad to facilitate involvement of Russian companies, especially young, innovation driven and technology oriented firms to explore the enormous opportunities opening up in India’s fast growing economy.
I wish the TECHNOPROM Conference all success and look forward to building a bigger and brighter scientific and technological partnership between India and Russia in the years ahead.
Thank you!”
The Union Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs and Defence, Shri Arun Jaitley with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr. Dmitry Rogozin during International Forum of Technological Development Technoprom-2017, at Novosibirsk, Russia on June 21, 2017.
The Union Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs and Defence, Shri Arun Jaitley at the 1st Meeting of the High Level Committee on Cooperation in field of High Technologies of Military, Dual and Civil Purpose, at Novosibirsk, Russia on June 21, 2017.
The Union Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs and Defence, Shri Arun Jaitley at the Plenary Session “Make in Russia: Double Purpose Industrialization” of Technoprom-2017, at Novosibirsk, Russia on June 21, 2017.
Ministry of Science & Technology
21-June, 2017 14:57 IST
10th Anniversary Celebrations of Indo-Russian Partnership in Science and Technology
DST concludes a MOU with FASIE to promote Indo-Russian R&D cooperation for start-ups and SME sector
A MOU on the India-Russia unified technology assessment and accelerated commercialization programme, was concluded in Moscow in 20th June 2017, by the Secretary, Department of Science & Technology (DST) Professor Ashutosh Sharma and Director General, Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE), Russia Dr. Sergey Polyakov.
The MOU aims at facilitating support enterprises to improve their global competitiveness through international cooperation, innovative activities and technology transfer. The two agencies (DST and FASIE) will link the Indian and Russian organisations and institutions to develop user-friendly and easy mechanisms for assisting companies and research entities to jointly develop technology collaboration and joint projects.
Professor Ashutosh Sharma also met with Dr Alexander Vitalievich Khulnov, Director General, Russian Science Foundation (RSF) in Moscow. They discussed many simple ways for encouraging young scientists to cooperate in areas of mutual interest.
The meeting concluded with an Addendum to the Agreement between DST and RSF on coordinated competition for conducting collaborating research. Both sides would support young achievers (less than 39 years) in a competitive mode for joint collaborative research. Next call for proposals would be made in 2018. Presently 17 joint projects are being supported by DST and RSF jointly.
Science and Technology cooperation between India and the Russian Federation has been one of the important pillars of the long standing and time tested bilateral relationship. The vibrant partnership in science and technology has created a win-win situation which is driven by a sense of confidence and purpose in achieving together. This deepening relationship has enabled the free confluence of researchers across disciplines and institutions both from academia and research laboratories. The principles of collaborative advantage, reciprocity and mutual trust are the hall mark of the India-Russia S&T relationship.
India and Russia are celebrating 70th year of establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries. Department of Science & Technology, New Delhi and Russian Foundation for Basic Research, Moscow are also celebrating 10th year of their partnership.
Two sides are agreed to work for start-up companies and entrepreneurs and to establish Indo-Russian Bridge for Innovation.
With the sunset of the
Integrated Long Term Programme (ILTP) with the Russian Academy of Sciences, the birth of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), India and the Russian Federation of Basic Research (RFBR) programme on Basic Sciences took place in 2007. The initial few years of DST-RFBR partnership was a modest one, competing with the footprint left by the ILTP. However, the DST-RFBR programme emerged steadily and today it provides one of the robust platforms for bilateral scientific cooperation in Basic Sciences. It has given access to Indian scientists to work with the entire spectrum of Russian academic and scientific institutions in pursuing front ranking curiosity driven fundamental research of international standards. The first call under DST-RFBR programme was awarded in 2008.
In last ten years, DST and RFBR have jointly supported 254 research projects out of 870 project proposals received. The rigour of the programme is reflected by an average success rate of about 25%. In terms of scientific areas, projects have been supported across the fields of basic sciences covering Physics & Astronomy (69 projects), Chemistry & Material Sciences (55 projects), Biology & Medical Sciences (34 projects), Earth Sciences (32 projects), Mathematics (27 projects), Engineering Sciences (23 projects) and Computer Sciences and Telecommunications (14 projects). Around 800 research publications have emerged from these projects, averaging publications per project. Last year a new element of inter-disciplinary research was added to the programme.
Against the maiden call, 52 proposals were received out of which 17 were selected for joint implementation. This will further unfold new opportunities in the bilateral cooperation.
This visit of Secretary DST, has been utilized to discuss with other Russian stake holders of bilateral scientific cooperation on the following targeted activities:
a. Conclude MOU between DST and FASIE (to promote R&D cooperation with participation of SME sector and start- up companies)
b. Conclude renewal document between DST and RFBR on continuation of partnership in Basic Science cooperation
c. Conclude Addendum with Russian Science Foundation for next call of proposals
d. Supervise conclusion of DST document with Russian Ministry of Education & Science on joint selection of projects against last call of proposals
e. Discussion on implementation of MOU, concluded in Goa Summit last year, with Russian Federal Agency of Scientific Organisation
f. Discussion and Negotiation with Russian Ministry of Economy Development for a MOU for cooperation in Innovative R&D and to establish Indo-Russia Bridge for Innovation
g. Discussion with St. Petersburg University on cooperation in Cyber Physical System (Big Data, Cyber Security, Internet of Things, Supercomputing)
h. Discussion with IOFFE Institute in St. Petersburg on their participation in bilateral cooperation. (One of its scientists was recently awarded with Nobel Prize in Physics).
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The Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Prof. Ashutosh Sharma with the Director General, Russian Science Foundation (RSF), Dr. Alexander Vitalievich Khulnov, in Moscow on June 20, 2017.
The Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Prof. Ashutosh Sharma and the Director General, Russian Science Foundation (RSF), Dr. Alexander Vitalievich Khulnov exchanging the agreement, in Moscow on June 20, 2017.
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The Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Prof. Ashutosh Sharma and the Director General, Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE), Russia, Dr. Sergey Polyakov signing an MoU for India-Russia unified technology assessment and accelerated commercialization programme, in Moscow on June 20, 2017.
The Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Prof. Ashutosh Sharma and the Director General, Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE), Russia, Dr. Sergey Polyakov signed an MoU for India-Russia unified technology assessment and accelerated commercialization programme, in Moscow on June 20, 2017.
