New Delhi, Dec 3 (IANS) US aerospace major Lockheed Martin's India Innovation Growth Programme (IIGP) has received a qualitative boost with a key government department coming on board to promote entrepreneurship in the country.

As it enters its third year, the IIGP will be partnered by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) for at least the next two years, if not longer, Ray Johnson, Lockheed Martin's senior vice president and chief technology officer, said.

'As we are about to enter the third year of the programme, I can't help but marvel at the tremendous ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that is so alive and well here in India,' he said at a select media briefing here Wednesday.

According to the official, the programme represents 'the best possible partnership' between the government, industry, and academia.

Along with DST, the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum is also part of the programme, apart from the IC2 Institute of the University of Texas and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry that have been with the initiative from the very beginning.

'As a collective team we are making a positive impact much faster than anyone could have predicted,' Johnson maintained.

Noting that the success of the programme was 'directly attributable' to the strong partnership formed between industry, government, and academia, he added: 'This partnership has enabled new ideas to cross international borders as we join hands in promoting the tremendous entrepreneurial spirit that is alive and well in India.'

According to Lockheed Martin, the nation-wide programme was started with the objective of enhancing the growth and development of India's entrepreneurial economy.

'The aim of this programme is to accelerate innovative new Indian technologies into markets in the United States and around the world,' a company statement said.

Toward this end, the programme focuses on teaching and using world-class commercialisation strategies.

'Since its introduction in India, the programme has received an overwhelming response from innovators, inventors, scientists and researchers working across diverse sectors throughout the country,' the statement said.