The success of the India Innovation Growth Programme has inspired Lockheed Martin, one of the world’s largest defence contractors, to launch a global innovation future programme in August.

The winning idea in each of the three critical areas chosen — cyber security, energy security and healthcare — will get a funding of $25,000. This also commemorates the 100th anniversary of innovation at the Bethesda, US headquartered $46.5 billion turnover (2011) company, said John Evans, Corporate Vice-President, Technology and Innovation.

“Innovations on the Lockheed Martin India programme are world class. In six years, 28,000 proposals, 284 commercial deals signed is big success. In 2012, alone 50 agreements were signed. We intended to accelerate the launch of early-stage Indian technologies into the global market place and its succeeding,” said John Evans.

In the India programme, Lockheed Martin is partnered with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce, the Department of Science and Technology and the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas in Austin. This is a business incubation programme that advises companies with new technologies, often start-ups, on how to bring their products to market.

Talking about research engagement with India for the company, Evans said, “We are active in nano technology, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), ocean thermal energy and defence”.

Lockheed Martin is providing mentoring and financial support to a student team from Delhi Technology University (DTU) to develop next generation of UAVs tailored for operations in large urban environments. A prototype developed by the team was recently displayed at a conference in Bangalore.

Similarly, another project that Corporate Engineering & Technology group is active is the ocean energy conversion project with the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in Chennai.

> Somasekhar.m@thehindu.co.in

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