Defence Innovation Organisation

Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) – Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)

The Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) is a not-for-profit Section 8 company under the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. DIO was established to own, fund, and manage the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative, publicly launched by Prime Minister Modi on 12 April 2018 at DefExpo in Chennai.

Mission

The core objective of iDEX-DIO is to build a self-sustaining innovation and technology development ecosystem for India's defence and aerospace sectors by engaging directly with startups, individual innovators, MSMEs, R&D institutions, and academia.

Programs

Defence Innovation Challenges (DICs): DIO regularly issues technology problem statements from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and DPSUs. Startups apply against specific challenges spanning AI, autonomous systems, communication, RADAR, cybersecurity, navigation, materials science, and unmanned systems.

iDEX Prime & ADITI: Scaled-up funding tracks for mature technologies requiring higher investment. The ADITI (Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX) scheme offers grants up to ₹25 crore for critical technology gaps.

SIDBI iDEX Seed Fund: A co-funding mechanism with SIDBI providing seed capital to early-stage defence-tech startups.

Defence Innovation Hubs: A network of partnering incubators (including PIEDS, FITT-IIT Delhi, IIITB Innovation Centre) serve as ground-level scouts and support centres.

Impact

Since its 2018 launch, iDEX has engaged hundreds of startups and innovators through multiple challenge rounds, with over 300 contracts signed and significant indigenisation of previously imported defence technologies. It has become a cornerstone of India's Atmanirbhar Bharat defence strategy.

Who Should Apply

Startups, MSMEs, and individual innovators building breakthrough technology solutions for India's defence and aerospace sectors. Areas of highest interest include AI/ML for defence applications, autonomous systems (drones, robots), secure communication, advanced materials, simulation, cybersecurity, and space tech. No prior defence sector experience required — technical innovation is the primary criterion.