37 projects given to MSMEs and Startups under Technology Development Fund Scheme

New Delhi, 17 Dec (KNN) The DRDO supported Technology Development Fund (TDF) Scheme encouraging MSMEs and Startups to develop various defence technologies since 2016 currently has a total of 37 project have been awarded to various industries specially MSMEs and Startups under TDF scheme.

The Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence gave a written reply today in Lok Sabha today, about approval of a central sector scheme viz. Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) with budgetary support of INR 498.78 crore for the next 5 years from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

The objective of the scheme is to provide financial support to nearly 300 Startups/MSMEs/individual innovators and about 20 Partner incubators through Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), said the press release.

Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework aims to achieve self-reliance and foster innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace Sector by engaging Industries including MSMEs, startups, individual innovators, R&D institutes and academia. A total of 89 iDEX winners have so far been identified. 35 new problem statements have been launched recently to expand the network, under Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC)-5.

It is also promoting research by providing Grant-in-Aid funding to various Indian R&D institutions/Universities, and 10 Centers of Excellence (CoEs) are operational in various IITs/Universities across India for directed research in identified areas.