What is Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)?

About Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX):

• It is the flagship initiative of the Union Ministry of Defence.
• It aims to achieve self-reliance and foster innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospaceby engaging Industries including MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, R&D institutes and academia.
• It has partnered with leading incubators in the country to provide handholding, technical support and guidance to the winners of iDEX challenges.
• Funding:
  • iDEX will be funded and managed by a ‘Defence Innovation Organization (DIO)’ which has been formed as a ‘not for profit companyas per Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013 by the two founder members, i.e. Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) - HAL & BEL.
  • It functions as the executive arm of DIO, carrying out all the required activities, while DIO will provide high-level policy guidance to iDEX. 
  • Under iDEX, financial support is provided to Start-ups/MSMEs/individual innovators and Partner Incubators through DIO.
• It has launched 11 editions of the Defence India Start-up Challenge and recently unveiled the Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme to promote innovations in critical and strategic defence technologies. 
• It was the recipient of Prime Minister Award for Public Policy in Innovation Category in 2021 and is currently engaged with over 400 start-ups and MSMEs.