RT team
A U.S. delegation, headed by Isabel Casillas Guzman of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), recently toured the Innovations for Defence Excellence-Defence Innovation Organisation (iDEX-DIO) at the Department of Defence Production. Their visit included a technological exhibition at IIT Delhi.
Isabel Casillas Guzman, serving as the 27th Administrator of the SBA, praised the iDEX initiative for its dynamic role in boosting India’s defense innovation landscape. She expressed eagerness for the SBA to engage with iDEX and its startups at an upcoming summit to discuss potential collaborations.
The U.S. SBA, an independent federal agency, supports small enterprises with various financing options, ranging from micro-lending to venture capital investment.
The presentation to the U.S. representatives showcased the success of iDEX in nurturing a vibrant defense innovation ecosystem by promoting the development of cutting-edge technologies through collaboration with startups and MSMEs.
The meeting also highlighted the INDUS-X initiative, which aims to enhance the technological partnership and defense industrial cooperation between the U.S. and India. This initiative focuses on joint innovation projects in critical areas and the development of startup capabilities.
iDEX has effectively cultivated a thriving community of over 450 startups and MSMEs in the defense sector. The Ministry of Defence has already approved procurement exceeding Rs 2,300 crore for various successful iDEX projects, signifying a significant step towards India’s self-reliance in defense under the Make in India initiative.
Leading the Indian delegation was Amit Satija, Joint Secretary, Defence Production. The discussions underscored the pivotal role of India’s startup ecosystem in advancing the nation’s capabilities in high-tech defense production.
Recently, the government allocated seven new projects to startups under the Technology Development Fund scheme, aiming to bolster aerospace and defense sectors, reinforcing the country’s drive towards self-sufficiency.
