The Department of Defence Production (DDP) recently held important discussions with over 50 start-ups and small businesses (MSMEs) to understand their challenges, explore new opportunities, and support them in bringing innovative ideas to the defence sector. The meetings took place on March 24 and 25 at South Block, New Delhi, under the leadership of Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production).
Many of these start-ups and small businesses are working with Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), a government initiative that encourages new and advanced technologies in the defence field. During the discussions, experts talked about various modern technologies such as space technology, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), drones, cybersecurity, radar systems, electronic warfare, quantum technology, and advanced materials. These innovations can be useful not only for defence but also for civilian purposes.
Shri Sanjeev Kumar thanked the participants for sharing their ideas and experiences. He said that such discussions help the government understand the needs of start-ups and small businesses, which in turn allows them to improve policies and procedures. He also mentioned that this will encourage more deep-tech start-ups to participate in defence projects, strengthening the country's security and technology capabilities.
This initiative is an important step by the Ministry of Defence to bring the latest technologies into India’s defence system. It also shows the government’s commitment to working closely with start-ups and small businesses to create a stronger and more self-reliant defence sector. (PR)