Innovations for Defence Excellence

About Innovations for Defence Excellence

The iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) scheme was rolled out in May 2021 by the Defence Innovation Organization (DIO), operating under the Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence (MoD). iDEX offers grants of up to Rs. 1.50 Cr (up to Rs. 10 Cr under iDEX Prime) to Start-ups/MSMEs for funding projects across various technology areas, run through the Defence India Start-up Challenges (DISC) and Open Challenge, under the Support for Prototype and Research Kickstart (SPARK Framework). Beyond fostering innovation and technology development, iDEX also opens a procurement route for the Armed Forces under the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, which lists innovation-based procurement as running through these programmes: (a) Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX): Start-up and MSME projects that need low capital but bring high innovation fall under this category. (b) Technology Development Fund (TDF) Scheme: Projects backed by DRDO’s TDF that tap into domestic capabilities within Indian industry, especially MSMEs and Start-ups.

iDEX is funded and run by the ‘Defence Innovation Organization (DIO),’ set up under the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, as a ‘not for profit’ company under Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013, by two founder members — the Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) & Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). iDEX serves as DIO’s executive arm, handling all operational activities while DIO provides high-level policy guidance.

iDEX’s aim is to build an ecosystem for innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace by engaging industries (MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators) as well as R&D institutes and academia. It backs them with grants/funding and other support to conduct R&D that could eventually serve India’s Defence and aerospace needs.

Building a self-reliant Indian military calls for a fast track to bring innovation into the weapons procurement process. iDEX operates as DIO’s executive arm, carrying out the operational work while DIO sets high-level policy.

Objectives:- a) Speed up the development of new, indigenised, and innovative technologies for India’s Defence and Aerospace sector, meeting sector needs faster.

b) Build a culture of engagement with innovative startups to encourage co-creation for Defence and Aerospace.

c) Foster a culture of technology co-creation and co-innovation across Defence and Aerospace.

DIO backs tech-driven firms in creating, deploying, and commercializing technologies for the Indian Armed Forces, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), and other Government establishments, through Defence India Startup Challenges (DISC) and Open Challenges (OC), offering a SPARK (Support for Prototype and Research Kickstart) grant of up to Rs. 1.5 Crore (up to Rs. 10 Crore under iDEX Prime).