Thread by @Arun_Golaya

Starting this week, I’ll compile (weekly) information about #NIIO #TDAC & #SPRINT from information available in various press releases,articles, speeches and books. The 🧵 this week is about the launch of the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation and it’s structures…

#NIIO was launched by Hon’ble Raksha Mantri @rajnathsingh on 13 August 2020. Dedicated structures were created for the end users to interact with academia & industry towards fostering innovation and indigenisation for self-reliance in defence

The Defence Acquisition Policy 2020 (DAP 20) envisaged Service HQs setting up IIOs within existing resources. @indiannavy already had a functional & dynamic Directorate of Indigenisation. NIIO was to build upon these indigenisation initiatives, as well as focus on ‘innovation’

#NIIO is a three-tiered mechanism headed by #VCNS. Its apex body, the Naval Technology Acceleration Council (NTAC) meets every 06 months. NTAC has nominated as well as ex-officio members + reps of academia & industry + selected persons of technical eminence.

A working group under the NTAC (NIIO WG) implements the projects. This WG is Co-Chaired by two 2⭐️ officers & meets every 02 months / more often if reqd. ACNS(Staff Requirements) & ACOM(Modernisation) are the two co-chairs.

A Technology Development Acceleration Cell (#TDAC) was created de novo for accelerated induction of emerging disruptive technology in the ‘to fight’ component. [Navy divides the indigenisation initiatives into ‘to float’, ‘to move’ & ‘to fight’]

#TDAC is focused on innovation through academia & industry interaction, and, channelling in-house innovations by naval personnel. With fast-paced change in technology, quick induction of niche technology for the war- fighting component was needed.

The Officer-in-Charge TDAC, in addition to heading the ‘innovation’ component of NIIO, also acts as the Member Secretary of NTAC as well as the NIIO WG.

More on TDAC in the next week’s thread… n/n

A weekly thread about #NIIO, #TDAC & #SPRINT

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As promised, more about the Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC) in this week’s thread #NIIO #TDAC #SPRINT #atmanirbharbharat

TDAC , a dedicated cell focused on innovation, was created within the NIIO to (1) Interact with the academia and the industry (2) Channel in-house innovations by naval personnel, and (3) Focus on quick induction of niche technology for the war- fighting component

TDAC was intentionally kept small and nimble. Initially, a complement of OIC + 04 officers was planned. The 04 officers were to represent the specializations of Navigation, Gunnery and ASW, in addition to one officer from the Electrical Branch

It was anticipated that this would broad-base the in-house expertise available. However, realizing that a ‘demonstrated innovative mindset’ was more important, provision was made for any officer with the right aptitude to be posted regardless of the branch / specialisation

TDAC also has an ‘extended arm’ called VISTAR which includes selected disruptive thinkers (regardless of rank) in the Navy. They are encouraged to directly contact Naval Headquarters on matters regarding innovation. This unorthodox hierarchy-less approach has shown good results

Over 30 IPR applications were filed by naval personnel in the very 1st year after NIIO was set up. As per an article by @CaptDKS “these innovations would make any dedicated R&D organisation stand tall amongst peers”

The list includes inventions for warfighting (Mine Detection System, Torpedo Counter Measure Systems, Missile Decoys & Ship Detection Algorithms), medical innovations (Nebulizer, low-cost digital stethoscope and many others), and, dual-use items (deck paint, marine life jackets)

TDAC also engages with the academia & industry in addition to in-house innovations. An online monthly interaction with the industry through @SIDMIndia has been instituted. This is on the last Friday of every month and focused on a different topic / theme in every interaction

Deep tech startups are also being recognised as 'lnnovation Industry Partners' & are provided handholding to better understand naval requirements. This is in addition to MoUs with industry bodies. NIIO aims to move beyond a buyer-seller relationship and see industry as partners.

“While many complain that the Indian private sector may not have capability to meet the defence needs, the approach taken by the Indian Navy indeed helps build the private sector capability”

chanakyaforum.com/indian-navys-m…

For interaction with the academia, TDAC has MoUs with a number of premier educational institutions. To engage young minds, the 'Indian Naval Students Technical Engagement Programme' (IN STEP) provides a 05 month online internship for students to work on naval problem statements

In the next week’s update, I shall cover ‘SPRINT’ - an ongoing NIIO initiative. To whet your appetite, I will also tweet some snippets about the major SPRINT projects through the week n/n