Today marks a pivotal moment in India’s defence innovation landscape as Innovations for Defence Excellence-Defence Innovation Organisation (iDEX-DIO), operating under the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, presents DefConnect 2024.
The grand event, set to commence at the prestigious Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, will witness the esteemed presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, who will inaugurate the proceedings.
DefConnect 2024 stands as a beacon of innovation, poised to unite key stakeholders from various sectors, including the Armed Forces, defence industry leaders, start-ups, academia, and policymakers.
This platform seeks to foster meaningful engagements, showcase cutting-edge technologies, and emerge as a transformative force in promoting collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship within the defence domain. The event is expected to draw a substantial gathering of innovators and investors from India’s foremost industries in the defence sector.
At the core of the iDEX framework lies a unique collaboration model, enabling military personnel to engage with innovators in a co-development capacity.
Acting as end users, nodal points, and domain experts, the Armed Forces contribute invaluable insights to guide innovation and seamlessly integrate advancements into existing platforms.
Since its inception, iDEX has launched 10 rounds of Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC) and 11 rounds of Open Challenges (OC), attracting over 9,000 applications from individual innovators and start-ups.
These challenges have been posed by a wide array of stakeholders, including the Tri-Services, Defence Space Agency, Defence Public Sector Undertakings, Indian Coast Guard, Border Roads Organisation, and other agencies.
An All-Women Panel Discussion on ‘Women as Drivers of Change’ is slated to take place, underscoring the pivotal role of women in the defence innovation landscape, just ahead of International Women’s Day on March 08, 2024.
One of the highlights of DefConnect 2024 will be the showcase of cutting-edge technologies developed by iDEX winners. Attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to interact with iDEX start-ups, gaining insights into their innovative technologies and potential applications.
Launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2018, iDEX serves as a unified platform for stakeholders in the defence and aerospace sectors. It serves as a catalyst for technology development and fosters collaborations in these critical domains, driving India towards self-reliance and innovation leadership in defence technology.
