Defence Minister Approved The Fast-track Process Of Procurement From iDEX Defence Startups.
Rajnath Singh, the minister of defense, announced that the ministry had approved a fast-track process for purchasing from startups and MSMEs linked with Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX).
Defence Minister approved the fast-track process of procurement from defence startup iDEX.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, gave the green light to the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) startups and Micro, Small & Medium Companies (MSMEs) to clear procurement of 14 items worth Rs 380.43 crore. These goods will be acquired by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The iDEX project of the Ministry of Defence collaborates with businesses, especially MSMEs and start-ups, to Promote Innovation in the defense and aerospace industries. The program collaborates with incubators to give winners of iDEX’s start-up contests technical assistance and mentoring.
With the start of this procedure, startups and MSMEs will be able to purchase defense equipment more quickly. Furthermore, under the new approach, the procurement cycle will take about 22 weeks from the AON until the moment of contract signature.
Moreover, the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2022 will be correctly updated. Similar to the iDEX system, the Defence Council has approved a streamlined process for “Make-II category projects.” This would notably reduce the amount of time it takes for Make-II initiatives to go from prototype creation to contract to sign.
The “Make-II” category includes projects that develop prototypes of equipment, systems, platforms, or upgrades for those systems, platforms, subsystems, subassemblies, assemblies, or parts, primarily for innovative solutions that replace imports and for which no government funding is provided for prototype development.
The ninth round of the Defense India Start-up Challenge (DISC) was launched by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.
Singh made the Announcement after opening the biennial Defense Innovation Conference, “Manthan 2023,” at the Chandan Singh Air Force Convention Center in Yelahanka, India.
The Defence India Startup Challenge was first introduced in 2018 by the Defence Innovation Organisation for the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) scheme of the Defence Ministry, with assistance from the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, and Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog.
According to Singh, “iDEX has opened up opportunities for achieving self-reliance in defense,” and it has been decided to rise the incentives already given to Young Entrepreneurs in order to encourage them to establish bigger initiatives.
The iDEX frame was established by the MoD to promote Domestic Innovation in the aerospace and defense industries. According to the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan (campaign for an independent India) of the Union Government, the agency gives financial incentives, promotes startups, MSMEs, R&D companies, academic institutions, and inventors, and makes it easier to buy their products.
The iDEX’s Defence India Start-up Competition DISC-9 was introduced by Singh. In this challenge, start-ups are given problem statements from the Armed Services and defense public sector units and asked to develop solutions.
The Home Ministry has started presenting “Issue Statements” As part of the challenge, according to Singh.
The Defence Minister praised the growth of start-ups in the country, claiming that the climate established for them has changed and that India will soon have one lakh start-ups.
He saw that the atmosphere that has been developed for startups in the country over the last several years is nothing less than a blessing for our youth. They could be numbered, but for right now, their number is about to approach 100,000,” the defense minister stated.
He emphasized that 100 unicorns have been created by kids tells much about their Newfound Enthusiasm and ambition for something different.
The Youngsters of the country have established more than 100 unicorns. This shows the value of the recently developed start-up ecosystem in the country and the renewed energy and passion of youth, according to Singh.
In his view, Start-up means new energy, Start-up means new commitment, and Start-up means New Enthusiasm, he stated.
According to Singh, new people, and start-ups must come forward if people are to cross other countries.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the importance of startups in the country, saying that the country should now go down the road of “Design our Destiny.”
According to Rajnath Singh, Innovation is the important first step in ushering in the country’s second Industrial Revolution.
We must either create new things or attempt to do the things we already do in a new way if we want to bring about the next Industrial Revolution. We should innovate, according to the story’s lesson. Creativity requires fresh ways of thinking, which Young People like you are good at, Rajnath Singh stated.
He gave the UPI payment system for example when he suggested that the country’s youth should attempt something new and think creatively instead of sticking to the norm.
Rajnath Singh said that in order for the country to advance with old technologies and old systems, it must redefine the competition.
iDEX for Indian Defence eco-system
A game-changer in the defence industry, Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) strives to stimulate innovation and swiftly integrate cutting-edge and disruptive technologies into the Indian Armed Forces.
The iDEX step, established under the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) overarching objective, aims to achieve self-sufficiency and indigenization in the defense ecosystem. The step is directing cross-disciplinary innovations and projects and igniting the lively energy of our startup ecosystem.
An Innovative Network of professionals from the Services, DPSUs, Industry, Academia, iDEX Authorities, and startups/MSMEs is active in the process of promoting contemporary defense technologies with the ethos of co-creation and co-innovation. All of this is done in an effort to give the Indian Armed Forces and the defense industry at least 50 top-notch solutions soon.
With the iDEX program’s launch in 2018, it has gained speed, and it is estimated that by the end of 2022, 25 to 40 Items will be ready for purchase after being successfully prototyped by iDEX startups and MSMEs.
By collaborating with R&D companies, academic institutions, startups, and even lone innovators to do research that has a high likelihood of being adopted in the future for Indian defense and aerospace needs, the Department of Defence Production (DDP) hopes to Foster Innovation and encourage technology development in the defense sector.
In addition, the frame gives them financial aid, grants, and other resources to do industry-related research.
edited and proofread by nikita sharma
