Dr. Kalam’s Vision Echoes at KCIRI Annual Day in Coimbatore

Coimbatore: The Kumaraguru Centre for Industrial Research and Innovation (KCIRI) at Kumaraguru Institutions celebrated its ninth Annual Day on Monday by honouring industry partners, researchers and student innovators, signing two strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), and hosting the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Memorial Address by eminent defence scientist and Padma Shri awardee Dr. Prahalada Ramarao.

Delivering the keynote address, the former DRDO Chief Controller and former Vice-Chancellor of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) said Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s vision of indigenous innovation, self-reliance and mission-driven leadership continues to serve as the blueprint for achieving Viksit Bharat @2047.

Reflecting on his 27-year association with Dr. Kalam, Dr. Prahalada recounted how the former President transformed India from a defence importer into a nation capable of developing world-class indigenous technologies. Urging students to embrace innovation, scientific excellence and national service, he said young minds have a crucial role to play in building a technologically self-reliant India.

Recalling Dr. Kalam’s contributions to India’s strategic capabilities, he highlighted the indigenous development of missile systems including Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Nag and Trishul, and described the BrahMos missile programme as a lasting example of Dr. Kalam’s vision of creating technologies in India with global relevance. He also spoke about the Development-cum-Production Partner (DCPP) model introduced by Dr. Kalam, which integrated industry into the research and development process and has since become a standard practice within DRDO.

Dr. Prahalada also highlighted Dr. Kalam’s efforts to adapt defence technologies for public welfare, citing innovations such as the Kalam-Raju Stent and lightweight carbon-composite calipers developed for polio-affected children. Sharing leadership lessons from the former President, he emphasised the importance of empowering young engineers, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and treating failures as opportunities to learn.

Earlier, KCIRI Director C. Vasantharaj welcomed the gathering and shared his experiences of working alongside Dr. Kalam and Dr. Prahalada during the development of the Akash missile programme, recalling the culture of dedication and innovation that shaped India’s indigenous defence ecosystem.

As part of the celebrations, KCIRI honoured industry partners for their contributions to research and innovation. The institution also signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs)—one with the SAARC Group for collaboration in defence manufacturing and secure software engineering, and another with AvioMinds Global Private Limited to promote applied research in aerospace technologies, including micro gas turbines and UAV propulsion systems. The partnerships will facilitate collaborative research, consultancy, internships and technology development between academia and industry.