Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) engaging Industries including MSMEs, startups, etc.

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, startups, individual innovators, and R&D institutes, and academia and promoting self-reliance. The Government has approved a central sector scheme for iDEX with budgetary support of Rs. 498.78 crore for the next 5 years from 2021-22 to 2025-26. The objective of the scheme is to provide financial support to nearly 300 Startups/ MSMEs/individual innovators and about 20 Partner incubators through Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO). For the current financial year 2021-2022, Rs. 45 crore have been released by the Government to iDEX-DIO.

The Government encourages the start-ups to contribute to the defence sector and develop aerospace set up in the country by providing substantial grants, easier and faster access to test facilities/infrastructure available with various Government agencies, co-creation and co-innovation using smooth operating procedures and minimal documentation and facilitating procurement, thus making the entire regime conducive for them.

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to Shri Anurag Sharma in Lok Sabha on April 01, 2022.