79 projects worth Rs 334 cr sanctioned under TDF scheme: Defence MoS Sanjay Seth tells Lok Sabha
defence technologies. Additionally, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has established 15 Industry Academia Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoEs) across the country, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth informed in a written reply to Ananta Nayak in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
The Technology Development Fund Scheme is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) executed by DRDO under the 'Make in India' initiative. The Union Government has approved the scheme to encourage industries, especially MSMEs and startups, to develop various defence technologies. The scheme aligns with the vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' by integrating new industries into the design and manufacturing of defence technology. Funding of up to Rs 50 crore per project is provided to the industry as a grant-in-aid, the minister stated.
DRDO has set up DIA-CoEs at institutions such as IISc Bangalore, various IITs, and Central/State Universities to promote focused research in developing new technologies for defence and security. These Centres of Excellence are equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories, research facilities, and infrastructure to attract researchers and scholars. Through these centres, DRDO aims to establish effective collaborations with startups and industries to further product development.
The Government has also launched the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework to foster innovation and technology development in the Defence and Aerospace sectors. It engages industries, including
