‘INDUS-X’ Summit:
The defence ministry said the ‘INDUS-X’ summit in Delhi marks a “significant milestone” in the collaborative efforts between the two countries.
- U.S.-India Defense Accelerator Ecosystem (INDUS-X) was launched in June 2023 during the state visit of the Prime Minister of India to the US.
- Objective is to expand strategic technology partnerships and defence industrial cooperation between governments, businesses, and academic institutions in India and the US.
- INDUS X will be a defence innovation bridge, which will inter-alia, include Joint Challenges, Joint Innovation Fund, Academia engagement, Industry-startup connect, investment by private entities in defence projects, mentoring by experts and niche technology projects etc.
- It will focus on advancing high-tech cooperation and fostering joint research, development, and production opportunities in the defence sector.
- The initiative aims to explore possibilities for co-producing jet engines, long-range artillery, and infantry vehicles.
- India’s Innovations for Defense Excellence (iDEX) and the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), US, are leading INDUS-X activities.
- Innovations for Defense Excellence (iDEX) is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Defence, Govt of India, launched in 2018.
- The objective of the scheme is to cultivate an innovation ecosystem in the Defence and Aerospace sector by collaborating with startups, innovators, MSMEs, incubators, and academia.
