BEML to leverage technology for Aatmanirbhar Bharat, sign 2 MoUs

New Delhi: BEML Limited has teamed up with IIT-Kanpur in the field of UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) and with NASSCOM – CoE (Centre of Excellence) for cooperation in the areas of AI & IoT (Artificial Intelligence & Internet of Things) and has signed MoUs in the virtual presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, PVSM, Secretary (Defence Production) Raj Kumar and other senior officials were present on the occasion. BEML Limited's CMD Dr Deepak Kumar Hota exchanged the signed copies with NASSCOM's CEO Sanjeev Malhotra and IIT-Kanpur's Dean Professor AR Harish after signing the MoUs.

Also read: Defence Minister launches Indigenous products of BEML Limited

BEML will collaborate with IIT Kanpur for joint indigenous development of Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA) and tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). Both the organisations will synergise respective capabilities and undertake a feasibility study, design and development, testing and validations of UAV and PTA. The jointly developed products would substitute the currently imported UAVs and PTAs and will achieve self-reliance at a reduced cost. This will also help to foster innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace by engaging various industries including MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, R&D institutes and academia. 
This will enable BEML to achieve a quantum jump in defence and aerospace business and provide a big thrust in 'Aatmanirbharta' in the defence sector. The potential customers will constitute of Armed Forces, Paramilitary & Civilian, said BEML.

BEML-NASSCOM tie-up aims at technical support for the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) in BEML products and to set up incubation centre for start-ups with a view to achieving self-reliance and foster innovation.

Over the years, AI has been driving business in multiple ways such as increased customer engagement, optimising training costs, providing personalised customer support, deriving reams of data on customer behaviour to streamline business process optimisation and provide round-the-clock customer support services. In addition, AI and IoT will bring about a sea change to the company's manufacturing processes.

The MoU between BEML & NASSCOM will enable BEML to achieve its vision to remain abreast with cutting edge technology and to be a market leader.

BEML Limited

BEML Limited is a leading multi-technology 'Schedule A' company under the Ministry of Defence, plays a pivotal role in serving India's core sectors like Defence, Rail, Power, Mining and Construction by offering world-class products. BEML operates in three verticals viz. Defence & Aerospace, Mining & Construction and Rail & Metro and has state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities located at Bangalore, Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), Mysore, Palakkad. BEML has very strong R&D infrastructure with a nationwide network of sales and services.

IIT-Kanpur

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, established in 1959, is one of the premier institutions established by the Government of India. The aim of the Institute is to provide meaningful education, to conduct original research of the highest standard and to provide leadership in technological innovation with a vision statement "To create, disseminate and translate knowledge in science, engineering and allied disciplines that will best serve the society."

NASSCOM Centre of Excellence (CoE)

NASSCOM Centre of Excellence (CoE), a not-for-profit industry association, is the apex body for the $180 billion IT-BPM industry in India. NASSCOM has been engaged actively in rolling out several new initiatives and strengthening the existing ones over the last few years and again to remain innovative, without ever losing its humane and friendly touch. NASSCOM's members have enabled the association to spearhead initiatives at local, national and global levels.