SROT: Indigenizing Production

What is the idea behind the launch of a Start-up for Research in Operational Technologies (SROT) in association with the Joint Services Innovation and Indigenization Centre (JSIIC, Pune), under the Ministry of Defence, bringing both industry and academia together?
In order to further encourage indigenization in compliance with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and to attain strategic independence by minimizing reliance on equipment of foreign origin, the Indian Army and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Rising income levels, increased financial literacy, lifestyle aspirations, and many other factors are driving expansion of the Indian business market, which undergone a sea change and is being driven by entrepreneurs. JSIIC launched the start-up in Research of Operational Technology (SROT) for Integrated Different Field Entrepreneurs Incubation Center in response to the shifting patterns in the sector. The Incubation Program will concentrate on offering an affiliated platform and a wide range of support services, such as funding opportunities, networking, incubator space, and assistance in doing business.
How will this collaborative start-up benefit students and the construction fraternity?
The SROT incubation centre provides young people and new age entrepreneurs with a place to develop various products, which can replace their imported counterparts. Our aim is to provide a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to launch businesses with the fewest possible risks and Make in India solutions.
The JSIIC, industry, and academia partnership was formed to address various statements given by the Ministry of Defence. Here, the students will assist start-ups to solve problems while students who want to be entrepreneurs will be supported by SROT. SROT Incubation Centre will help budding entrepreneurs to find potential areas of interest for national development. It is working on quality assurance, production capacity, and a worldwide platform for doing business.

What are the products and import substitutes that will be developed indigenously?
We have around 100 products and 45 startups registered with SROT Incubation Centre. We have Defence related products, Agri products, Advance Concrete Techno Products, Soil Stabilizers, Paints and Coatings, Solar products, etc. Our area of application is mainly the Defence sector, followed by the general Indian market.

How will J. Kumar Infraprojects R&D competency support SROT?
We remain true to our mantra for superlative infrastructure by dreaming big and working harder. Over the years we have dedicated ourselves to creating an infrastructure eco-system where quality and excellence is not an exception, but a norm. We also believe that it is our social responsibility to promote Make in India products.
Today, J. Kumar Infraprojects is one of the fastest growing companies in the Construction Industry. The company has 25 labs in and around the Pune region which are working with Joint Services Innovation & Indigenization Centre (JSIIC) since inception and is providing technical support to SROT (Research of Operational Technology), which has been formed to provide a platform to start-ups.

Since J Kumar Infraprojects is working in various fields, we are tied up with many industries, scientists and academies working with startups to provide them solutions. J. Kumar in association with SROT is also providing skill development programs for students by giving them hands-on experience in field workshops.
In March 2023, SROT conducted a skill development workshop on Concrete Technology in collaboration with J Kumar and the academia.