Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, OSD, Department of Defence Shri RK Singh, Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat, Financial Advisor (Defence Services) Shri Sugata Ghosh Dastidar, other senior officials of Ministry of Defence, industry leaders, academia, young entrepreneurs & innovators attended the event.
On 7th October, 2024, in a significant move towards fostering innovation and self-reliance in the defence sector, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched ADITI 2.0 and the 12th edition of Defence India Start-up Challenges (DISC 12) during DefConnect 4.0, held at the Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantt. The event is part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations, reflecting the Government’s commitment to achieving ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence.
ADITI 2.0 features 19 challenges from the Armed Forces and allied agencies, focusing on critical technology areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Technology, military communication, anti-drone systems, and adaptive camouflage. The initiative offers grants of up to Rs 25 crore to winners under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) scheme. This program is expected to play a crucial role in strengthening India’s defence ecosystem by addressing the technological needs of the Armed Forces.
DISC 12, the latest edition of the Defence India Start-up Challenge, presents 41 challenges in key domains like Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), AI, Networking, and Communication. For the first time, it introduces the Medical Innovations and Research Advancement (MIRA) initiative, aimed at fostering medical technologies that meet the unique needs of the Armed Forces. DISC 12 will offer grants up to Rs 1.5 crore to winning start-ups and innovators.
In his address, Raksha Mantri praised the success of DefConnect, emphasising its role in nurturing a culture of innovation within the country. He noted that the platform is essential in bridging stakeholders from the defence ecosystem, contributing to the goal of self-reliance. He urged the private sector to move beyond imitation and focus on innovation, pushing the boundaries of technological advancement to meet the future needs of the Armed Forces.
Shri Rajnath Singh revealed that over 9,000 applications have been submitted under the iDEX initiative, and it is now collaborating with over 450 start-ups and MSMEs. He highlighted that procurement orders worth Rs 1,000 crore have been placed for 26 iDEX products, and Acceptance of Necessity and Request for Proposal worth Rs 2,380 crore have been issued for 37 additional products.
The Minister also acknowledged the role of SIDBI iDEX Partner Incubator Fund, which aims to address the funding challenges of innovators. SIDBI will allocate ₹50 crore to 10 leading partner incubators, including IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and Technology-Hub Hyderabad, to support iDEX winners in advancing cutting-edge defence technologies.
Shri Rajnath Singh, speaking on the integration of new technologies in warfare, highlighted the weaponisation of dual-use and civilian technologies. He emphasised the need for a deep understanding of these advancements and urged innovators to creatively adapt them for national defence. Stressing the shift from imitation to innovation, he called on the private sector to go beyond current challenges and develop technologies that surpass the Armed Forces’ present requirements, aiming to tackle future threats. He assured government support for building a strong, self-reliant defence sector.
During the DefConnect 2024 event, Rajnath Singh also recognized the winners of ADITI 1.0 and praised their groundbreaking solutions in areas such as munition systems, intelligence, surveillance, communication systems, and space technologies. Notable winners included QuNu Labs, Sagar Defence Technologies, Astrome Technologies, Zeus Numerix Pvt. Ltd., NewSpace Research and Technologies, and Pixxel Space India.
Source- PIB
