Monday, December 27 2004 17:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Public sector major Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has bagged the FICCI Award for 2003-04 in the category of Research in Science and Technology.

S K Mehta, Director (R& D), BEL, received the award from the Union Finance Minister, P Chidambaram, at FICCI's Annual General Meeting held today (Dec 27, 2004) at New Delhi, a company statement said in Bangalore.

The award was decided by an eminent FICCI awards jury headed by Justice P N Bhagwati, former Chief Justice of India, it said.

BEL said it lays great emphasis on research and development in order to retain its leadership in defence and other related areas of business.

All the nine units of BEL have R&D teams. BEL has also established two Central Research Laboratories (CRls) in Bangalore and Ghaziabad.

The Central Research laboratories are engaged in forward looking applied research in the areas of interest to BEL, the statement said.