Defence minister launched Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme to promote innovations in critical and strategic defence technologies, during DefConnect 2024.
About Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme:
- Launched under the iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) framework of the Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence.
- A Rs 750 crore scheme for 2023-24 to 2025-26, with the objective of developing 30 deep-tech critical and strategic technologies.
- Start-ups under the ADITI scheme are eligible to receive a grant-in-aid of up to ₹25 crore for their research, development, and innovation endeavors in defence technology.
- The scheme will nurture the innovation of youth, and help the country leap forward in the field of technology.
- It also envisages to create a ‘Technology Watch Tool’ to bridge the gap between the expectations and requirements of the modern Armed Forces and the capabilities of the defence innovation ecosystem.
Eligibility of the ADITI scheme:
- Startups recognized by the DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- The company must be embodied under the Companies Act 1956/2013.
- Individual innovators can also apply for the ADITI scheme.
- However, post-selection they have to register as a Startup/ MSME.
About DefConnect 2024:
- Organized by Innovations for Defence Excellence-Defence Innovation Organisation (iDEX-DIO), the event aims to forge partnerships and tackle emerging security challenges.
- It serves as a pivotal moment in India’s defence innovation landscape, uniting key stakeholders such as the Armed Forces, defence industry leaders, start-ups, academia, and policymakers.
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework:
- The Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework is a program launched by the Indian government in 2018 to promote innovation and technology development in the defense and aerospace sectors.
- The framework aims to foster innovation and technology development by engaging industries including MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, R&D institutes, and academia.
- The objective of the scheme is to provide financial support to nearly 300 Start-ups/MSMEs/individual innovators and about 20 Partner Incubators through Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO).
- iDEX provides grants up to Rs. 1.50 Cr to the Start-ups/MSMEs to fund the projects in many technological areas under Defence India Start-up Challenges (DISC) and Open Challenge through the Support for Prototype and Research Kick start (SPARK Framework).
- To motivate young innovators iDEX was expanded to iDEX Prime, with the assistance increasing from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 10 crore.
Objectives:
- Creating an ecosystem to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology.
- Creating corporate venture capital models to identify emerging technologies, connect innovators to military units, and facilitate co-creation of new technologies.
- Providing a unified platform for various stakeholders in the defense and aerospace sectors.
- Acting like an umbrella organization to oversee technology development and potential collaborations in this specific field.
- Empowering a culture of technology co-creation and co-innovation in the sector.
Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO).
- The Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) is a not-for-profit company that funds and manages the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) program.
- The DIO is a Section-8 company created by the defense PSUs Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
11th edition of Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC):
- The Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC) is a program that supports startups, MSMEs, and innovators in creating prototypes and commercializing products and solutions for national defense and security.
- The program is a partnership between the Ministry of defence and the Atal Innovation Mission.
- It fosters collaboration between the defence establishment and the start-up ecosystem.
- DISC 11 presents 22 problem statements, distributed across Indian Army (4), Indian Navy (5), Indian Air Force (5), Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (7), and Hindustan Shipyard Limited (1).
- These statements are designed to tackle crucial defence challenges, encouraging innovators to propose creative solutions that can elevate the nation’s defence capabilities and contribute to bolstering national security.
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