Developing indigenous systems is ITR's focus: Binaya Kumar Das

Bhubaneswar: The Integrated Test Range (ITR), the premier DRDO laboratory at Chandipur in Balasore district has been awarded the prestigious Silicon Trophy for the year 2016 as the best Technological laboratory of DRDO besides the "Agni Award for Excellence in Self Reliance" for the year 2017.

ITR Director Binaya Kumar Das received the awards from Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the DRDO award ceremony on Monday.

Speaking to OTV, Das said, “The journey that ITR has made since its establishment in 1982 is our greatest reward. Scientists do not work for awards. For me, the best award is what I have been able to contribute and achieve for my country."

"DRDO confers awards for high quality research works. ITR was selected as the best laboratory of DRDO among all the laboratories. Our target has been to free India from foreign imports. Way back in 1982, we used to import systems from abroad. Subsequently the focus was on self reliance and developing in-house systems. At ITR, our aim has been to develop indigenous systems," he shared.