The DRDO Industry Academia Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoEs) were established at premier academic institutions and universities across India to foster a Directed Research Ecosystem through collaboration between DRDO labs, academia, startups, and industries. These centres drive research in cutting-edge and restricted defence technologies.
The primary objective of DIA-CoEs is to leverage the collective expertise of academia, student communities, research fellows, industries specializing in niche technologies, and DRDO scientists. By synergizing these strengths, the centres aim to advance research and innovation in key defence technology domains. The CoEs play a crucial role in developing next-generation defence systems and platforms through multidisciplinary and multi-institutional collaborations. To date, DRDO has established fifteen DIA-CoEs.
The DIA-CoE at IIT Kharagpur has been fully operational since January 2024. It comprises six research verticals, under which DRDO funds R&D projects for academic institutions, including IIT Kharagpur. The centre is located in the Diamond Jubilee Building (Tower-II) within the IIT Kharagpur campus.