BANGALORE: In order to avoid controversial deals on the lines of Antrix-Devas, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will offer only civilian spin off technologies and avoid any “sensitive” products from its soon-to-be established commercial arm.
“The products that would be available would be part of low value projects,” W Selvamurthy, chief controller, R&D for Life Sciences at DRDO said. “The products would include Leh Berry Juice, bio-digestors, dental implants, mosquito repellent and other food technologies among others that have been indigenously developed,” he told Express.
Dismissing claims that procedures for setting up the commercial arm were “stuck” in the Cabinet, he said the Ministry (Defence) had cleared it and the same would be sent to the Cabinet.
“It is now in the process of inter-ministerial consultation, including consultations with the Finance Ministry and the proceedings are under way,” he said and added, “All processes should be complete in three months and then sent to the Cabinet for approval.” Asserting that the commercial arm would not be able to deal with sensitive technologies, he said they would be able to communicate with foreign companies if they wanted to utilise the commercial products on offer for their respective commercial use.
“The process of handing out contracts would be transparent and the same would go to mostly small and medium enterprises in the private sector,” he said.