In recent news, Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), a leading initiative of the Department of Defence Production from the Ministry of Defence, has hit a significant landmark by signing its 150th contract. This agreement is associated with an Indian Navy project as part of the Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC 7) SPRINT edition.
Understanding iDEX
Launched in 2018, iDEX functions as an ecosystem that encourages innovation and technological advancement in Defence and Aerospace. The initiative seeks to actively engage entrepreneurs and innovators to deliver advanced solutions for modernizing the Indian Military.
Providing funds and grants to Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), start-ups, individual innovators, R&D institutes, and academia, iDEX supports research and development in defence technologies. The iDEX-Prime initiative offers financial assistance ranging from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 10 crore for defence-related projects undertaken by start-ups. Furthermore, the iDEX portal was introduced to ensure wider publicity and better visibility of iDEX activities and provide efficient information management for future challenges.
Core Objectives of iDEX
The core objectives of iDEX revolve around indigenization for rapid development of new, innovative and indigenous technology, fostering innovation through engagement with start-ups, and securing capital via the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO). The effectiveness of iDEX’s strategies resulted in it receiving the prestigious Prime Minister Award for Public Policy in Innovation Category for 2021.
Role of Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO)
A not-for-profit organisation functioning under section 8 of the Companies Act 2013, DIO is financed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). It provides crucial policy guidance to iDEX.
What is DISC?
The Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC) aims to support start-ups/MSMEs/Innovators in creating prototypes and commercialising products or solutions for National Defence and Security. Launched in 2018 in Bengaluru, DISC is a joint venture by the Ministry of Defence and Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), the Indian Government’s flagship initiative to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. DISC 7 was launched with 69 Problem Statements from the Indian Navy, to be resolved by startups & innovators.
Government Initiatives Regarding Indigenisation
Several government initiatives are focused on promoting indigenisation, including The First Negative List, Positive Indigenisation, New FDI Policy in the Defence Sector, Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, and Defence Industrial Corridors.
Atal Innovation Mission
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is set up under the NITI Aayog with the objective to promote innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the country. AIM acts as an umbrella organisation that aligns innovation policies between Central, State and sectoral innovation schemes to establish and promote an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship at various levels – higher secondary schools, science, engineering and higher academic institutions, SME/MSME industry, corporate and NGO levels. The mission is based on a comprehensive study and deliberations on innovation and entrepreneurial needs of the country.
