MoD brainstorms with 50 small firms and start-ups to accelerate defence innovation

Most of the firms that attended are engaged in programmes under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

 

Senior officials of Department of Defence Production, under the chairmanship of Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, held deliberations with industrialists from over 50 start-up ventures and medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs).

 

They discussed the key challenges affecting these ventures, identifying opportunities and supporting them in accelerating innovation.

 

The brainstorming sessions were held at South Block in New Delhi on March 24^th and 25^th 2025.

 

Most of the start-ups and MSMEs that attended the two sessions, are engaged in programmes under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative.

 

Insightful deliberations across critical and emerging technology domains such as space technologies, quantum technologies, electronic warfare, drones, artificial intelligence and machine learning, radar technologies, cyber security, and advanced materials helped in

understanding their potential applications in both civil and defence sectors.

 

Thanking the participants for their valuable insights, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar stated that sessions would help the ministry in understanding the perspective of the industry, particularly new technology start-ups. It would help in fine-tuning policies and procedures, leading to wider participation of start-ups working in deep tech, he added.