Mumbai, July 9 (IANS): The IIT Bombay and IIT Madras will collaborate with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to conduct research and develop products related to critical aerospace technologies as part of the "Make In India" initiative.

The DRDO signed an agreement by which a bi-nodal "Centre for Propulsion Technology" (CoPT) will be established at the IIT Bombay and IIT Madras campuses.

The agreement was inked by DRDO D-G S. Christopher, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, Devang Khakhar, Director, IIT Bombay, and B. Ramamurthi, Director, IIT Madras here on Saturday morning.

Assuring the DRDO's full support for the CoPT, Christopher said it would attract talent to the field and urged it to maintain a result-oriented approach.

Khakhar called for utilising the investment in the field for gaining knowledge leadership in these areas and motivate Gen-Next to enter this exciting area of research.

Ramamurthi hailed it as an opportunity to generate enthusiasm and energy for new research and provide an apt environment where young minds could grow and contribute in this field.

The CoPT will evolve mechanisms to facilitate execution of programmes pertaining to propulsion technology and engage the two IITs and other research institutions to take up advanced collaborative research in areas of critical defence technologies.

It would facilitate and undertake research in areas like futuristic aero engines, hypersonic propulsion for long duration flights, solid propellant combustion modelling and morphing aircraft technologies.

The CoPT will further strengthen the DRDO's alliances with IITs and other research bodies in the country and enhance interaction with the academia and researchers.

The CoPT is envisaged to emerge as a centre of excellence for conducting basic and applied research in aero-propulsion technologies and get recognition as among the best in the world.