Defence Production Department Engages Start-ups and MSMEs to Drive Innovation

New Delhi: Senior officials of the Department of Defence Production, under the chairmanship of Secretary (DP) Sanjeev Kumar, held extensive deliberations with over 50 start-ups and MSMEs to identify key challenges, explore opportunities, and accelerate innovation in the defence sector. The brainstorming sessions took place at South Block, New Delhi, on March 24 and 25, 2025.

Many of the participating start-ups and MSMEs are engaged with the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative. The discussions covered a range of critical and emerging technologies, including Space Technologies, Quantum Technologies, Electronic Warfare, Drones, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Radar Technologies, Cyber Security, and Advanced Materials. These deliberations provided deeper insights into the potential applications of these innovations in both civil and defence sectors.

Expressing gratitude to the participants for their valuable inputs, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar emphasized that the sessions would help the Ministry gain a better understanding of industry perspectives, particularly from new technology-driven start-ups. He highlighted that such engagements would play a crucial role in refining policies and procedures, fostering wider participation of start-ups working in deep tech, and ensuring India’s self-reliance in advanced defence technologies.