Bhubaneswar: An advanced aerospace and defence technology centre will soon be set up at Patia here to provide skilled manpower, required by the industry, especially MSMEs, in aerospace and defence sector.

This high-tech technology centre, with testing and calibration facility, will facilitate the development of sophisticated systems required for the aerospace and defence industry. The foundation stone of the centre will be laid on August 1.

The centre will be started by Tzar Aerospace Research Labs founded by entrepreneur Priyam Mohanty.

The start-up based in Cuttack was started in 2016 to act as an catalyst in the development, exploration and commercialisation of emerging aerospace markets by providing innovative, entrepreneurial solutions to commercial, civil and military customers.

Mohanty said: "The centre will be set up here as the state has some of the best aerospace and defence industries and is the home to advanced research and development institutions such Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT), Integrated Test Range (ITR), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and National Institute of Science Education and Research (Niser). There are several prestigious projects in progress and this would be right time to support their activities by promoting the MSME sector to enhance their competitiveness."

The centre will train about 10,000 trainees in 10 years through various long and short term training programmes in the areas of light weighting of aerospace structures, material modelling, propulsion, additive manufacturing, 3D printing, hypersonic design and UAVs.

Trainees will work with the country's leading researchers and scientists and assist around 100 MSMEs. They will work on design and development of sophisticated aerospace system and equipment and testing, calibration, including consultancy in the related fields.