Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has called on the private sector to take a leading role in the defence industry, assuring full government support to establish India as an innovation and technology hub. Speaking at the DRDO-Industry Workshop on Defence Technology Acceleration on October 18, 2024, he emphasized the need for collaboration among scientists, industry leaders, academia, startups, and MSMEs to strengthen the country’s defence capabilities.

During the event, Singh launched ‘Dare to Dream 5.0,’ an initiative aimed at encouraging innovators and startups to propose transformative ideas for defence applications. He highlighted that the competition seeks cutting-edge solutions to advance India’s self-reliance in defence technologies. The Raksha Mantri underscored the importance of adopting unconventional ideas to address modern warfare challenges, including cyber warfare, drones, and bio-weapons.

Singh announced that the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme continues to provide substantial grants—up to 90% of the total project cost—to eligible industries, facilitating their investment in defence research and development. Since its inception six years ago, the TDF has sanctioned 79 projects, successfully developing technology in 18 of them.

The Raksha Mantri also unveiled several Deep-Tech challenges aimed at driving advancements in critical areas of defence infrastructure. These include the development of indigenous thrusters for the Indian Navy and compact electromechanical actuators, emphasizing the need for breakthrough technologies in India’s defence landscape.

Moreover, Singh handed over cutting-edge indigenous technologies developed under the TDF scheme to end-users, including DRDO and the Armed Forces. These innovations, created by startups and MSMEs, represent a significant step toward enhancing national security and self-reliance.

The workshop also included panel discussions on critical and emerging technology collaboration and self-reliance in defence technology. Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman, Dr. Samir V Kamat, praised the winners of the ‘Dare to Dream 4.0’ initiative, highlighting the growing talent within India’s defence innovation ecosystem.

This commitment from the government and industry stakeholders aims to bridge the gap between research and real-world application, fostering a robust domestic ecosystem for defence manufacturing and technology development.