Defence Startups Get A Big Push: DRDO, iDEX & MSMEs Drive Innovation

India’s startups and MSMEs are emerging as key drivers of innovation and self-reliance in the defence sector. From deep tech and artificial intelligence to quantum computing, hypersonics and directed energy, smaller enterprises are increasingly working on technologies that could shape India’s future defence capabilities. DRDO is creating frameworks that allow startups and MSMEs to engage directly with its laboratories, access technical mentoring and use advanced testing facilities. Platforms such as iDEX are also helping startups develop solutions based on real operational requirements, while the Defence Innovation ecosystem is opening new funding and mentorship opportunities. The focus is now moving beyond production towards collaboration across the entire value chain, covering research, design, testing, certification and manufacturing. The larger goal is to make startups and MSMEs an integral part of India’s defence supply chain.