Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework was launched by the Government with the aim to foster innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace Sector by engaging Industries including MSMEs: Ajay Bhatt

Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework was launched by the Government with the aim to foster innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace Sector by engaging Industries including MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, R&D institutes and academia and to promote self-reliance. The details of iDEX Winners funded by iDEX scheme up to 31^st January 2023 are as follows:

iDEX is a user driven initiative. The problem statements for the product/technology development are identified/approved by the Armed Forces, DPSUs, and other agencies. Further, Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has informed that the Government, with an intent to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and start-ups in the country, launched Start-up India initiative on 16th January 2016.

In order to meet the objectives of the initiative, the Government unveiled an Action Plan for Startup India that laid the foundation of Government support, schemes and incentives envisaged to create a vibrant startup ecosystem in the country. The Action Plan comprises of 19 action items spanning across areas such as “Simplification and handholding”, “Funding support and incentives” and “Industry- academia partnership and incubation”. Sustained Government efforts in this direction have resulted in increasing the number of recognized Startups from 445 in 2016 to 86,713 in 2022 (as on 31st December 2022).

Moreover, in order to encourage Indian defence Industry in design & development of Defence equipment, provisions have been made at Chapter –III of ‘Defence Acquisition Procedure’ (DAP-2020) under ‘Make Procedure’. Chapter –III of DAP-2020 also provisions to foster innovation from ‘iDEX’ and ‘Technology Development Fund’ (TDF).

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to Dr Beesetti Venkata Satyavathi and others in Lok Sabha today.