Team Blitz India
GANDHINAGAR: Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), a specialised university in the field of security studies, and Starburst Aerospace of France celebrated a milestone in the advancement of aerospace, defence, and homeland security innovation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding on April 22.
Hosted at the RRU campus at Lavad, the event brought together esteemed dignitaries, industry leaders, and stakeholders to witness the formalisation of a transformative collaboration. The MoU marked the commencement of a dynamic partnership between RRU, Starburst and Security and Scientific Technical Research Association (SASTRA), a not-forprofit company established by the RRU.
Atmanirbhar Bharat
SASTRA’s integral role in this collaboration amplifies the focus on innovation, incubation, and technology acceleration in the realm of national security and policing, further enhancing the collaborative efforts towards achieving Atmanirbhar Bharat and ensuring the nation’s security and sovereignty, said a press release.
RRU and Starburst share a vision of helping to ignite the emergence of a vibrant security and defence ecosystem in India, facilitating enterprise creation and nurturing the rapid growth of innovative start-ups spinning out of the region.
The MoU includes the creation of a venture capital fund of €100 million for aerospace, defence and security technology and provide export promotion support for Indian start-ups to explore international markets.
The dignitaries present at the event included Prof (Dr) Bimal N. Patel, Vice-Chancellor, RRU, François Chopard, CEO of Starburst, France, Prof (Dr) Kalpesh Wandra, Pro Vice-Chancellor of RRU, Col Nidhish Bhatnagar, Managing Director of SASTRA, and Koumar Vijaya, Executive Vice-President of Starburst.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Patel expressed optimism regarding the partnership’s transformative potential in catalysing innovation and bolstering self-reliance across defence, homeland security, and related technological domains. He underscored RRU’s commitment to nurturing a culture of statecraft and strategic acumen, specifically tailored to effectively confront and mitigate the multifaceted security challenges faced by the nation.
Starburst CEO Chopard accentuated the significance of the collaboration in fostering a vibrant ecosystem for technological innovation and entrepreneurial growth in the ASD and homeland security sectors. He highlighted Starburst’s commitment to supporting startups and driving advancements in defence and security technologies globally.
Col Bhatnagar said, “The strategic partnership between Rashtriya Raksha University, SASTRA, and Starburst is aimed at propelling innovation and spearheading advancements in the aerospace, defence, and homeland security sectors. This collaboration signifies a pivotal step towards bolstering India’s technological prowess and ensuring the nation’s security and sovereignty.”
Speaking on the occasion, Maj Gen (Retd) Deepak Mehra, Director, School of Internal Security and Smart Policing, RRU, said: “This is a golden opportunity to partake in the unique phenomenon of utilising AIbased technologies in a security enmeshed architecture by leveraging entrepreneurial power of start-ups to connect with Government initiatives and innovate.”
