With a vision to build a defense innovation collaboration, India and the US launched the India-United States Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) on 21 June at a landmark event in Washington DC.

The event was co-organized by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), the Ministry of Defence, and the US Department of Defence (DoD) and hosted by US-India Business Council (USIBC).

The initiative aims to foster collaboration, interoperability, and innovation between Indian and US defense startups, promoting technological advancements in the sector.

The effort provides a pathway to funnel technology developed by startups and other commercial companies into U.S. and Indian defense agencies.

Frank Kendall, US Secretary of the Air Force, delivering the opening keynote address highlighted the growing relationship between India and the United States and emphasized the tremendous potential for collaboration in deep tech domains, particularly in space and artificial intelligence (AI).

Leading the Indian delegation, Anurag Bajpai, Joint Secretary (Defence Industries Promotion), MoD, spearheaded the INDUS X event held on June 20-21, 2023. In his welcome remarks on “Investing in the Future of US-Indian Defence Relations,” lauded the launch of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) as a pivotal moment in the India-US relationship. He underscored the importance of the co-development and co-production of advanced technologies by Indian and US start-ups, urging participants to explore future collaborations across industries, academia, and investors. He also provided an overview of the Make in India initiative and talked about the concept of “Make in India, for the world” and the vision of a self-reliant India (Aatmanirbhar Bharat). 

The event provided a platform for Indian and US government representatives, defense start-ups, think tanks, incubators, investors, and industries to network and foster relationships.

Ambassador Eric Garcetti, the US Ambassador to India, delivered a keynote address, highlighting the significance of the occasion.

One of the highlights of the event was a first-of-its-kind joint showcasing, where 15 Indian start-ups and 10 US start-ups exhibited their innovative technologies across multiple domains, including maritime, AI, autonomous systems, and space.

This exhibition drew the attention of top US officials, including Congressman Ro Khanna, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, and Radha Iyengar Plumb, Deputy Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment, US Department of Defence.

In addition to the showcases, INDUS X also hosted panel discussions and round-table focused on deepening collaborations across various sectors, including government, academia, and industry, with particular emphasis on startups. The discussions covered topics such as export control regulations and explored opportunities for future partnerships.

Image source: AP