IIT Kanpur Hosts Successful Capability Assessment Workshop on Drones and Autonomous Systems

The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur, in collaboration with the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), organized a Capability Assessment Workshop on Drones and Autonomous Systems from February 24–25, 2025. The event brought together 44 attendees from government organizations, the armed forces, industry, and academic institutions, reinforcing IIT Kanpur’s role as a drone technology hub. Representatives from MP-IDSA, the Uttar Pradesh Government, CSIR-NAL, DGCA, NAQAS, DRDO, and other institutions participated. The workshop aimed to establish an ecosystem for drone design, development, testing, and certification, aligning with India's self-reliance goals in defense technology.

The inaugural session featured eminent personalities who discussed India's drone technology roadmap. Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur, highlighted India's ambition to become a global drone technology hub, emphasizing government support, certification, testing, and R&D. He mentioned IIT Kanpur’s infrastructure, including an airstrip, flight lab, and prototyping facilities, which facilitate drone production. Several drones had already been designed and handed over to the defense sector.

Ambassador Sujan R. Chinoy, Director General of MP-IDSA, spoke about the workshop’s alignment with India’s strategic ambitions. He emphasized collaboration between government and private entities to achieve self-reliance. Discussions revolved around Infrastructure Development, Technology Development and Integration, and Ecosystem Development.

Shri Awnish Awasthi, Chief Advisor to CM Yogi Adityanath, acknowledged IIT Kanpur’s role in drone research, emphasizing state government support. Industry leaders, including Shri J.D. Patil from L&T’s Defence Business and officials from DRDO, shared insights on strengthening India's drone ecosystem.

Participants toured IIT Kanpur’s drone research and testing facilities. Discussions focused on aerial testing infrastructure, UAV component development, and certification frameworks. The closing session, led by Prof. A.K. Ghosh, summarized key takeaways and outlined action points. The event reinforced IIT Kanpur’s role in drone research and set a roadmap for indigenous drone standards, UAV testing, and industry collaboration to advance India’s self-reliance in drone technology.