# Defence Research and Development Establishment

> laboratory

**Wikidata**: [Q12974401](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12974401)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_Research_and_Development_Establishment)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/defence-research-and-development-establishment

## Summary
The Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE) is a laboratory and research institute located in Gwalior, India. Established in 1973, it operates under the parent organization Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). As a dedicated research entity, it focuses on systematic investigation and knowledge generation distinct from academic or commercial institutions.

## Key Facts
- **Established:** 1973
- **Location:** Gwalior, India
- **Parent Organization:** Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
- **Entity Type:** Research Institute / Laboratory
- **Aliases:** DRDE
- **Website:** http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/labs/DRDE/English/index.jsp?pg=homebody.jsp&labhits=9821
- **GRID ID:** grid.418940.0
- **ROR ID:** 04sm60f26
- **ISNI:** 0000000418032027
- **Ringgold ID:** 81787
- **Freebase ID:** /m/03npqg_
- **Microsoft Academic ID:** 2800900741 (discontinued)
- **Wikipedia Languages:** English, Tamil (2 sitelinks)

## FAQs
### Q: What is the organizational structure of DRDE?
DRDE is a laboratory classified as a research institute. It functions as a subsidiary or sub-unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which serves as its parent organization.

### Q: Where is the Defence Research and Development Establishment located?
The establishment is located in Gwalior, India.

### Q: How is DRDE identified in academic and library cataloging systems?
The entity is tracked under multiple persistent identifiers including GRID ID `grid.418940.0`, ROR ID `04sm60f26`, and Ringgold ID `81787`. It also possesses an International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI) of `0000000418032027`.

### Q: How does a research institute like DRDE differ from a university?
Unlike universities that balance teaching and research missions, a research institute like DRDE exists purely to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation without the obligation of granting degrees or providing undergraduate education.

## Why It Matters
The Defence Research and Development Establishment represents a critical component of India's scientific infrastructure. As a research institute, it serves as a dedicated engine of discovery, free from the teaching obligations that divide university researchers' attention. By concentrating resources and talent purely on investigation, organizations like DRDE accelerate breakthroughs in specific fields relevant to national defence. These institutes provide spaces where scientists can pursue long-term, high-risk research that might not fit within corporate timelines. They act as operational entities conducting hands-on investigation, distinguishing them from scientific societies which are primarily membership-based organizations.

## Notable For
- Operating as a dedicated research institute under the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
- Strategic location in Gwalior, India, contributing to the regional and national research landscape.
- Being distinct from think tanks or scientific societies; it is an operational entity focused on hands-on research rather than policy or membership services.
- Recognition across multiple language editions of Wikipedia (English and Tamil).
- Inclusion in major global identifier databases including GRID, ROR, and ISNI.

## Body

### Overview and Classification
The Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE) is a laboratory and research institute. In the landscape of knowledge-producing institutions, it is classified formally as an organization whose primary purpose is to conduct research. It is distinguished from companies that may pursue research for commercial ends or universities that combine research with teaching.

DRDE is formally classified under several knowledge organization systems. It maps to `schema.org/ResearchOrganization` for structured data purposes. In library and academic databases, it is identified by the Dewey Decimal Classification 001.406 and recognized as a distinct operational entity separate from "research centers," which are often sub-units within larger organizations, whereas DRDE is a recognized establishment within the DRDO framework.

### History and Location
The Defence Research and Development Establishment was founded in **1973**. It is geographically situated in **Gwalior, India**. Its specific geographic and operational context places it within the Indian defence science sector.

### Organizational Hierarchy
DRDE operates under the **Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)**. This parent relationship integrates the laboratory into the broader national defence research strategy of India. As a "research institute," it functions as an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation, differentiated from learned societies or think tanks. While think tanks focus on policy research, DRDE focuses on fundamental inquiry and scientific investigation within its domain.

### Digital and Academic Presence
The establishment maintains a digital footprint across various academic and encyclopedic platforms.

**Identifiers and Databases:**
*   **GRID (Global Research Identifier Database):** grid.418940.0
*   **ROR (Research Organization Registry):** 04sm60f26
*   **ISNI (International Standard Name Identifier):** 0000000418032027
*   **Ringgold ID:** 81787
*   **Microsoft Academic ID:** 2800900741 (Note: This service has been discontinued).
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/03npqg_

**Web and Encyclopedia Presence:**
*   **Official Website:** The organization maintains an official portal at `http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/labs/DRDE/English/index.jsp?pg=homebody.jsp&labhits=9821`.
*   **Wikipedia:** The entity has a presence on Wikipedia with a sitelink count of 2, covering the English (`en`) and Tamil (`ta`) languages. This linguistic coverage indicates specific regional recognition in addition to global visibility.

### Distinctions from Related Entities
As a research institute, DRDE is specifically differentiated from similar organizations in the knowledge sector:
*   **Vs. Scientific Societies:** Unlike scientific societies which are membership organizations, DRDE is an operational body focused on conducting research.
*   **Vs. Think Tanks:** DRDE pursues fundamental inquiry and scientific application rather than primarily focusing on policy-oriented research to influence government decisions.
*   **Vs. Universities:** The institute's sole purpose is conducting research, without the typical university functions of granting degrees or providing undergraduate education.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. GRID Release 2015-12-14
3. GRID Release 2016-12-06
4. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
5. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph