Army launches first Technology Node at Pune.
To boost indigenous defence production and facilitate interaction with Industry, the Indian Army’s Southern Command formally launched the first Regional Technology Node (RTN) at Pune at an event held on 02 Nov 2021. It also included the conduct of a Start-up forum by the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM). 
The event was organized by Headquarters Southern Command in conjunction with the SIDM. Held in hybrid mode, the event was live-streamed and attended by heads and representatives of more than 100 industries, startups and Army establishments from across the country. Delivering the Keynote Address, Lt Gen JS Nain, AVSM, SM, GOC-in-C Southern Command, emphasised the timely absorption of cutting edge technologies for military modernisation, achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing and the role of Indian industry in the same. He exhorted the industry to come forward with their proposals and become a partner in the process. Other dignitaries present on the occasion were Mr Jayant D Patil, President SIDM, Maj Gen Kirti Jauhar, VSM, Additional Director General of the Army Design Bureau, Mr S P Shukla, Vice President SIDM, Mr Abhishek Jain, Chairman, SIDM Start-up Forum and Col Rajinder Singh Bhatia (Retd), President &CEO Defence, Bharat Forge Limited.
Keeping in step with Atmanirbharata and Make in India push of the Government, the Ministry of Defence and the Army have taken large strides in indigenisation of defence equipment with the aim of reducing dependency on foreign suppliers and eventually emerging as an export hub for defence goods. With the Launch of the RTN at Pune, the reach of the Army Design Bureau has been extended to the tech hubs of the Southern region. This will encourage industries, MSMEs and Startups to come forward & propose solutions for the Army’s modernisation requirements.
