IIIT Delhi, 4 IITs establish centre of excellence for national security research

NEW DELHI : Higher educational institutions including Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Delhi, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, IIT Guwahati, IIT Jodhpur, and IIT Dharwad, have collaborated to establish the Manekshaw Centre of Excellence for National Security Studies and Research (MCOENSSR). The Manekshaw CoE for national security will be established with support from the Indian tri-service forces.

The initiative aims to advance defense research, innovation, and capacity building. The MCOENSSR aims to strengthen India's national security capabilities and promote self-reliance in defense technology under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.

MCOENSSR: Objectives

MCOENSSR will serve as a nodal body connecting defense forces, security agencies, academia, and research institutions to develop strategic solutions for national security challenges.

Key objectives include:

• Act as a central hub for the defence forces, security agencies, academic institutions, research centers, and scientific organizations, promoting the integration of strategic planning, operational efficiency, and technological advancements to strengthen national security.

• Developing practical defense and security applications to support the armed forces and security agencies in countering next-generation hybrid warfare.

• Offering specialized courses for defense, security Forces, and law enforcement agencies focused on non-contact warfare and emerging technologies.

• Providing re-employment training for officers, junior commissioned officers (JCOs), Other Ranks (ORs), and Agniveers to facilitate their transition into industry roles.

Contributions from institutions

Each institute will contribute expertise in specialized areas:

IIT Guwahati – Communications, controlled blast resistance, shockwaves, and hypersonic applications.

IIT Kanpur – Cybersecurity, quantum computing, and related technologies.

IIT Jodhpur – Engine design, UAVs/RPAs, and directed energy weapons.

IIT Dharwad – Design and additive manufacturing, Internet of Things (IoT).

IIIT Delhi – Space and aerospace research, artificial intelligence.

CDAC – EWS and C-UAS

Strengthening India’s defense research

The official inauguration of MCOENSSR and its first general council meeting held at IIIT Delhi on March 3, 2025. The event brought stakeholders from academia, defense, and industry to discuss a roadmap for strengthening research and technological self-reliance in national security.

With the launch of MCOENSSR, the universities aim to enhance its defense ecosystem by fostering indigenous innovation, strengthening collaboration between academia and security agencies, and developing specialized training programs for defense and security personnel.