Army Boosts Atmanirbhar Bharat with iDEX Contract

The Indian Army has signed its eighth procurement contract through the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) platform, focused on advancing technological innovation in defence and aerospace. The key contract involves Quantum Key Distribution technology. iDEX engages research institutions, academia, and industries, fostering a robust defence startup ecosystem.

The Indian Army has reaffirmed its commitment to the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative by signing its eighth procurement contract via the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) platform on Monday.

The iDEX platform aims to create an ecosystem that promotes innovation and technological development in defence and aerospace. It engages research and development institutes, academia, and industries, providing them with funding and support to carry out promising R&D projects for future adoption.

Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, iDEX has become a key player in connecting startups and innovators with defence needs, significantly impacting the defence startup community. A notable contract was signed with QuNu Labs for 'Generation of Quantum Secure Key,' boosting encryption security. Currently, the Indian Army is working on 74 projects under iDEX, involving 77 startups and aiming for state-of-the-art solutions.

(With inputs from agencies.)