At Bharat Electronics’ R&D Excellence Awards ceremony in Bengaluru, Vice President Dhankar spoke on India’s self-reliance, focusing on semiconductors, startup support, and academic innovation at school-college level.
On Saturday, the Honourable Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankar, urged Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to play a pivotal role in India’s mission to achieve a self-reliant and developed nation at the company’s event in Bengaluru.
Addressing the employees at BEL’s annual R&D Excellence Awards ceremony, he outlined a three-pronged strategy for the Navratna Defence PSU: spearheading the semiconductor revolution from design to manufacture, supporting startups to secure India’s position in the global supply chain and fostering academic collaborations to drive innovation.
During the event, which was held at the BEL Academy of Excellence in Nalanda, Dhankar presented awards to 500 R&D awardees. Notably, the Best R&D Division award went to BEL-Ghaziabad, while Mr Manoj Jain, Chairman and Managing Director of BEL, was honoured for securing seven patents.
Additionally, a Principal Scientist from BEL’s Central Research Laboratory in Bengaluru received recognition for obtaining 14 patents. BEL now boasts a total of 267 patents to its name.
The Vice President also stressed the importance of nurturing a spirit of innovation among students, encouraging them to engage in research from an early age. He emphasised that true self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) would only be achieved when India is recognised globally as a hub for research and development.
“The spirit to innovate and engage in research must be instilled in school and college students. We cannot rest on our past laurels. Atmanirbharbharta will become a reality only when the world looks at as a crucible of research and development,” he noted.
Accompanying the Vice President, Dr Sudesh Dhankar, his wife, and the Governor of Karnataka, Thawar Chand Gehlot, also graced the ceremony to celebrate BEL’s contributions to the country’s technological advancements.
