A national workshop cum Orientation Programme dated 17-19^th Feb 2021 was organised by Mizoram University at DRDO-MZU North East Science and Technology Center (NESTC), Mizoram University, Aizawl. The workshop was virtually inaugurated by Secretary DD R&D and Chairman DRDO, Dr. Satheesh Reddy. 

The objective of the workshop is to orient the Researchers and Faculty members of the North East Region to understand the futuristic research and technology requirements of defence & security, to nurture the local talent for providing scientific solutions to local problems and to generate interest in areas relevant to Armed Forces with a vision to promote Atmanirbhar Bharat policy of GOI.

While addressing the event, Chairman DRDO emphasized the requirement of research by utilising the local talents of various universities/institutes of northeast states. He encouraged the faculty/researchers to formulate and submit innovative ideas and join hands with DRDO in making the country self-reliant in defence and security. Emphasising the importance of long-term partnership between Academic Institutes & DRDO, he highlighted the need of collaboration of universities, researchers and industries with DRDO labs for contributing in main stream research for the country. He also stressed the possibility of exploring research opportunities in the areas of development of products and technologies for high altitude, extreme environmental conditions, cyber security and the like.

Spread over three days, this national workshop has three thrust areas namely, Management of Agro-Bio Resources, Environment and Waste Management, Engineering Technology and Material Science. In this workshop, 35 concept notes from 13 universities of eight north east states (Mizoram, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland and Sikkim) will be presented and evaluated by a team of DRDO scientists and NESTC faculty. The workshop will be attended by more than 100 faculty members. During this orientation programme, discussion of faculty/researchers with DRDO scientists will enable in understanding key defence concepts in which research projects can be undertaken. The technological developments proposed through these concepts and research ideas will help in articulating newer technological products of defence interest.