"IIT Bhubaneswar Partners with IG Drones for Disaster Management R&D"

IIT Bhubaneswar has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with IG Drones, a company specializing in drone technology and artificial intelligence, to establish an Advanced Drone Excellence Centre at the IIT Bhubaneswar Research and Entrepreneurship Park. This new centre will focus on research and development (R&D) in the application of drone technology for disaster management.

This collaboration represents a significant step forward in advancing drone technology for disaster response, particularly in India, which is highly susceptible to natural disasters. The Centre of Excellence (CoE) will be dedicated to enhancing drone capabilities for managing natural calamities, leveraging IG Drones' extensive experience in disaster-affected regions.

IG Drones has been involved in disaster management since 2019, with notable projects in areas such as Uttarakhand's avalanche zones, Sikkim's landslide-prone regions, and Odisha's cyclone-affected areas. This expertise positions IG Drones to drive innovation in the application of drone technology for disaster management.

The partnership aims to develop advanced drone technologies and research methodologies specifically tailored for disaster scenarios. The new Advanced Drone Excellence Centre will occupy approximately 2,000 square feet and will be equipped to support various R&D initiatives.

Soobhankar Pati, CEO of IIT Bhubaneswar Research and Entrepreneurship Park, highlighted the centre's potential, noting its alignment with the institute's existing AR and VR Centre of Excellence, and its focus on AI and AR/VR startups. He expressed optimism about advancing disaster management solutions through this new initiative.

Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, CEO of IG Drones, emphasized the importance of the partnership, stating that it represents a major advancement in disaster management through drone technology. He noted that the collaboration will enhance the effectiveness of drones in disaster scenarios and contribute significantly to improving disaster response and recovery efforts.

HBL