Jamshedpur: CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML) hosted a one-day Industry Conclave titled ‘Indigenization of Materials (IndiMat-2025): Challenges & Opportunities in Strategic Sector’ on April 29, 2025, as part of its Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The event aimed to foster collaboration between industry leaders, R&D institutions, and end-users to promote self-reliance in material development for strategic sectors.
Jasbir Singh Solanki, CEO of Naval Systems, Mahindra Defence, Pune, served as the Chief Guest. Inaugurating the event, CSIR-NML Director Dr. Sandip Ghosh Chowdhury highlighted the lab’s role in enhancing India’s metallurgical self-sufficiency. Dr. S. Sivaprasad, conclave chairman, outlined CSIR-NML’s contributions in alloy development, structural health monitoring, and non-destructive evaluation.
Solanki underscored the importance of transforming India from a follower to a global leader in strategic manufacturing, stressing the need for strong R&D-industry synergy. The conclave featured two technical sessions with 11 presentations from key organizations including HAL, L&T, ISRO, DRDO, Indian Air Force, and Vedanta, discussing advancements and indigenization efforts in materials technology.
The day concluded with a panel discussion on a roadmap toward self-reliant defence and space sectors, emphasizing collaborative efforts between research, industry, and strategic stakeholders.
