India-U.S. target technologies in maritime domain under start-up collaboration

Two defence innovation challenges launched under the ambitious joint initiative, India-U.S. Defence Acceleration Ecosystem related to the domains of underwater communications and oil spill detection, are now in advanced stages where applications from start-ups on both sides have been invited and would subsequently be evaluated and shortlisted, officials said on Wednesday. The two INDUS-X challenges under ‘INDUS-X Mutual Promotion of Advanced Collaborative Technologies’ challenges jointly finalised by Innovations for Defence Excellence of India’s Defence Ministry and Defence Innovation Unit of the U.S. Department of Defence were launched in October. The first-ever INDUS-X investors’ event evinced the interest of the investors in the start-ups and MSMEs operating in the defence sector and the emerging opportunities under the INDUS-X initiative, a Defence Ministry statement said. “The Gurukul series will have sessions for the start-ups/innovators by the experts from both sides including government officials, corporate leaders, industry forums, incubators/ accelerators etc.” India-U.S. Defence Acceleration Ecosystem was launched in June 2023 during the State visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the U.S. to expand strategic technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation between governments, businesses, and academic institutions of India and the U.S. INDUS X will be a defence innovation bridge which would inter-alia include joint challenges, joint innovation fund, academia engagement, industry-start-up connect, investment by private entities in defence projects, mentoring by experts and niche technology projects.