DR DIPAK ROY
Founder and Executive Chairman
D-TA Systems Inc | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Janam Bhumi:
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Dharma Bhumi:
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Karma Bhumi:
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Delivering Innovation, Engineering Tomorrow
The ‘Dipak’ Factor: “Technology is the greatest equaliser. It values education, skills, and expertise—not skin colour, religion, or gender.”
THE MAN
If you don’t choose to stand out, you will fade into the crowd. The only mantra that made Dr Dipak Roy the man he is today. Coming from a family that valued education and knowledge, Dr Roy understood what it took to achieve one’s dreams and be excellent at it.
Born to Sudhir Chandra, a civil engineer with the military, and Parul in Calcutta (Kolkata), Dr Roy was surrounded by discipline and a rich cultural heritage. He recalls, “My father did not believe in mediocrity, and it built in me the drive to excel in everything I do.”
Growing up, Dr Roy remembers studying hard and playing street cricket with friends. A die-hard cricket enthusiast, he never missed a single test match in Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Academically focused, Dr Roy found his calling early in life. For him, engineering was more than just a career. It was a lens to understand and shape the world. “Even as a student, I realised electronics was everywhere, from the simplest household item to the most advanced military system. I knew the potential it held for creating impact,” he recalls.
THE JOURNEY
While studying electronics at Jadavpur University, Kolkata’s iconic coffee houses were Dr Roy’s unofficial classrooms, where intellectual conversations and political debates brewed over ‘addas’ (spontaneous conversation). While pursuing his degree and addas, Dr Roy also completed a one-year computer science programme –an unusual combination at the time. He soon secured a coveted position at the Electronics Commission, Mumbai, ranking eighth among hundreds of brilliant engineers. Working with visionary scientists like Dr MGK Menon and Dr N Seshagiri was a transformative experience. “They didn’t just teach me science; they taught me how to think critically and aim beyond boundaries,” he reflects. These lessons straddled him across continents and industries, turning him into a visionary like his mentors.
Dr Roy moved to Canada during the Cold War era to pursue a master’s degree at Carleton University. It was an interesting time in geopolitics, to say the least. As he heard stories from Eastern European refugees, he found new appreciation for the freedoms he had. It probably also strengthened his resolve to make a mark on the world. After completing his doctorate and “with no money and little experience” he started his first venture, ICS Ltd in 1980. What began in a modest warehouse basement evolved into a leading provider of sonar, radar, and communications technologies for the defence sector, serving over 20 nations and NATO. He reflects, “I remember the first time we delivered a system overseas; I realised then that technology knows no borders, only the ambition behind it does.” A US$50 million sonar upgrade for the United States Navy catapulted ICS to heights of success before it was sold in 2003.
An engineer’s brain is a perpetual beta in motion, constantly upgrading. Dr Roy’s brilliant mind shifted focus to innovation in defence, leading him to founding D-TA Systems in 2007. Today, D-TA Systems is recognised globally for providing HF radars for Canada’s Over-the-Horizon Radar project, EW simulators for the US Army, and EW payload demonstrators for the US Navy. “We are the only SME in the world with full EW system capability in this highly complex, multidisciplinary field,” he adds proudly.
THE SPIRIT WITHIN
As a keynote speaker at a recent convocation ceremony held for Algonquin College technical graduates, Dr Roy was quoted as saying, “From AI to space travel to fighting climate change, it’s the technician who is doing it all. You have knowledge to build things and that’s what gives you power to change the world.”
A life-long learner, Dr Roy sees education as a key tool in giving back. After all, the mother board of philanthropy and education is the same: to build a better world. He and his wife, Tara, consciously pay it forward because it is “a matter of heart” to do something for the country that has given them everything.
They have established the Dipak and Tara Roy Advanced Sensor Processing Lab at Carleton University for graduate research and skill development. They continue to support research and development projects, apart from employing graduates from Carleton University and Algonquin College at D-TA Systems. Other initiatives include refurbishment of a palliative care unit in Ottawa. Dr Roy believes in the power of synergy – that of technology and ethics. He says, “Technical knowledge has the power to change the world, but it must be grounded in humanity and compassion.”
THE LEGACY
Dr Roy’s partner in life and work is Tara, a Trinidad-based Indian, whom he met at Carleton University, where she was pursuing her second degree. They married in 1978, and Tara became an equal ally at home and work, helping him with corporate matters. Tara came from an affluent background, but she embraced the challenges and uncertainties of being an entrepreneur’s wife. Today, she manages portfolios of D-TA group of companies. Their children Rajeev and Reshmi are the couple’s biggest strengths and pride.
Dr Roy has achieved a lot with over 30 technical publications and is the first Canadian to be inducted into the Association of Crows (AOC) Electronic Warfare Technology Hall of Fame – a rare honour. “For me, it has always been about building a legacy that inspires others to dream, innovate, and cross boundaries,” he shares. And so, Dr. Roy continues to engineer solutions to complex issues, including the ultimate design problem – the human one.
MAPPING THE INDIA WITHIN
Bharat: Then and Now
“During my childhood, India was in its early years after independence, adopting socialism to meet the needs of a poor nation. India has come a long way since then, establishing itself as the world’s largest and most successful democracy. Earlier, people recognised India for its morals and principles; today, they also know it for the continuous progress it has made.”
Bharatiya Values that Travelled
“Honesty, integrity, and compassion are the values I carried from India and passed on to my children. In Canada, we have remained rooted in Bengali culture, actively engaging with Indian communities to preserve traditions and share cultural ideas, keeping our heritage alive.”
Generations Abroad: A New Bharatiya Identity
“My sister and I grew up watching our grandmother spend hours in prayer, and we learnt the same practice to stay spiritually connected. Our Bengali traditions accompany us wherever we go, and my children, Rajeev and Rashmi, proudly uphold them.”
Pride, Progress, and the Spirit Of Bharat
“There was a time when India was almost invisible on the global stage. Today, it is emerging as an economic powerhouse, ranked the 5th largest economy and aspiring soon to be the 3rd. We feel immense pride standing tall as Indians at every event we attend.”
Dreams for the Youth and Future of Bharat
“I wish India continues to shine in peaceful existence with its neighbours. India’s potential is unbelievable in every sphere—from academia, business to social welfare. “My advice to the younger generation is simple: Honesty is the best policy. Our country has taught us to be kind and never take advantage of others. The youth must work for society and preserve the integrity inherited from their ancestral land.”
BACK TO THE FUTURE – IN FIVE MOMENTS
Food Cravings
THEN
My childhood was defined by my mother’s cooking, especially her ‘Shorshe mach’ (fish in mustard marinade) and ‘pulao’ (aromatic rice), and the unique taste of Calcutta sweets.
NOW
I enjoy international cuisine. I also have a cook who occasionally prepares Bengali food.
Sport Spirit
THEN
I lived and breathed cricket, playing with a tennis ball on the streets every chance I got.
NOW
I’ve traded my cricket bat for golf clubs. Not that I am a great golfer (laughs) but I enjoy it.
Music Tastes
THEN
I grew up on the classic Bollywood playlists of Mohammad Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, and Kishore Kumar.
NOW
I almost exclusively listen to those same Indian classics, especially when driving.
Holiday Life
THEN
My holidays were long train journeys across India to visit my father at his various postings, an adventure in itself.
NOW
My getaways are much shorter now, often combining business trips with quick holidays.
Leisure Habits
THEN
My time was filled with everything from collecting stamps to playing carrom board with friends.
NOW
It’s mostly watching television. Of course, my main leisure activity is helping my wife with the grocery shopping (laughs).
AKA
The first Canadian inducted into the Electronic Warfare Technology Hall of Fame | Dr. Dipak Roy Executive Chairman D-TA Systems
