Defence Innovation Organisation

Name

Defence Innovation Organisation

Legal name

Defence Innovation Organisation

Website

https://idex.gov.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defence Innovation and Technology Acceleration

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), International Affairs (92812), Public Administration (92)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Defense R&D, Test, Evaluation & Innovation (BPAIAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Development Cooperation & Foreign Aid Administration (BPAIAIAG)

Keywords

• Defence innovation programs
• Startup challenge grants
• Defence R&D funding
• Military technology accelerator
• Indigenous defence manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Grants and funding disbursed to startups/MSMEs, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: iDEX operates as a government-funded initiative under Ministry of Defence, providing grants to startups and MSMEs for defence R&D. Grant amounts range up to Rs. 1.5 crore for DISC challenges and Rs. 10 crore for iDEX PRIME challenges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) operates the iDEX (Innovation for Defence Excellence) programme, a Government of India–backed platform that runs challenge-based innovation contests to source defence and dual-use technology solutions from startups, MSMEs, individual innovators, R&D institutes, and academia. Winners receive grant funding (up to Rs. 1.5 crore under DISC and up to Rs. 10 crore under iDEX PRIME) for prototype development, with successful solutions receiving a direct procurement pathway into the Indian Armed Forces and Defence Public Sector Undertakings.

Product overview

Defence Innovation Organisation (iDEX) operates as a government-supported defence innovation accelerator platform, not a traditional product company. It functions as a matchmaking hub connecting Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Defence Public Sector Undertakings, and Ministry of Defence with the Indian startup/MSME ecosystem. The platform runs multiple challenge programs—DISC (Defence India Startup Challenge) editions, ADITI scheme, iDEX PRIME, iDEX SPRINT, DRISHTI Challenges, and Mission DefSpace—each offering grant-based funding (ranging from Rs. 1.5 Crore to Rs. 10 Crore) for prototype development and commercialization of defence technologies. Partner Incubators across India provide mentorship and infrastructure support. Technology domains span AI/ML, drones, communications, radar, naval systems, aerospace, cybersecurity, quantum technology, and more. The platform does not develop or sell proprietary products itself; instead, it funds and facilitates defence innovation by the startup ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DISC (Defence India Startup Challenge): Flagship challenge programme for startups/MSMEs/Innovators to create prototypes and commercialize products in National Defence and Security.
• ADITI (Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX)
• iDEX PRIME
• INDUS X
• DRISHTI

Products and services

• Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC)
• ADITI (Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX)
• iDEX PRIME
• iDEX SPRINT
• Open Challenge
• DRISHTI Challenges
• INDUS X
• Mission DefSpace
• iDEX Partner Incubator Program
• iDEX Srijan

Quantifiable outcome

• 350+ contracts signed with iDEX winners
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EdCIL (India) Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2025iDEX-DIO signed an MoU with EdCIL (India) Ltd. under the ASPIRE program to foster dual-use technologies. The MoU was signed by Joint Secretary (DIP) & Additional CEO, DIO Shri Amit Satija and Joint Secretary (TEL), Ministry of Education.
• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartneriDEX is partnered with Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog for the Defence India Startup Challenge, aimed at supporting Startups/MSMEs/Innovators to create prototypes and commercialize products in the area of National Defence and Security.
• IIM Ahmedabad (Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner Incubator providing discovery, exploration and mentorship to startups/MSMEs for co-creating innovative Defence Technologies under iDEX
• IIT Bombay (SINE - Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner Incubator providing discovery, exploration and mentorship to startups/MSMEs for co-creating innovative Defence Technologies under iDEX
• THub HyderabadcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner Incubator providing discovery, exploration and mentorship to startups/MSMEs for co-creating innovative Defence Technologies under iDEX
• Coimbatore Innovation Business Incubator (CIBI) / FORGEcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner Incubator providing discovery, exploration and mentorship to startups/MSMEs for co-creating innovative Defence Technologies under iDEX
• IIT Madras (Incubation Cell)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner Incubator providing incubation support to defence startups under iDEX
• FITT IIT DelhicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner Incubator providing incubation support to defence startups under iDEX
• Technology Development Fund (TDF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRDO's Technology Development Fund linked as a resource for defence innovation ecosystem
• US Department of Defense / Tawazun Economic CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINDUS X initiative - bilateral innovation partnership between India and US for defence technology collaboration

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation): India's primary defence R&D agency under the Ministry of Defence. Adjacent to but distinct from iDEX — both operate under MoD to fund defence technology development, but DRDO is the legacy in-house R&D establishment while iDEX engages the external startup ecosystem. TDF is DRDO's closest analog to iDEX's grant model.
• Australian Defence Innovation Hub: Australian DoD initiative funding innovative research and technology ideas from industry, academia, and overseas. Comparable as a government-funded defence innovation sourcing mechanism with grants and contracting pathways.
• Israel Innovation Authority - Defense Programs: Israel's national innovation funding body with dedicated defense R&D tracks, including MAGNET and other consortia programs. Comparable as a government-backed defense innovation funding mechanism, with similar dual-use technology focus and bilateral partnership orientation.
• Singapore DSTA (Defence Science and Technology Agency): Singapore's defence technology agency acquiring and developing defence capabilities. Comparable as a government defence innovation entity, though DSTA focuses more on direct procurement and capability development versus iDEX's startup-ecosystem intermediation model.

Regional players

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): Indian Government initiative under NITI Aayog promoting innovation across sectors. Operational partner of iDEX for the Defence India Startup Challenge but not a defence-specific peer; included as a regional ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency): The US Department of Defense agency responsible for driving breakthrough R&D for national security. Directly comparable to iDEX as a government-backed defence innovation organization funding high-risk, high-reward technology development, though DARPA operates at significantly larger scale and budget.
• AFWERX: The US Air Force's innovation arm running challenge-based programs connecting airmen, entrepreneurs, and industry to solve operational problems. Directly comparable to iDEX's challenge-driven model (DISC, ADITI) engaging startups and innovators against service-defined problem statements.
• Defense Innovation Unit (DIU): US DoD organization accelerating the adoption of commercial technology into military systems. Comparable to iDEX in bridging the gap between startups/commercial innovators and defence procurement, with similar challenge-based sourcing and accelerator programs.
• DASA (Defence and Security Accelerator): UK Ministry of Defence organization funding innovative ideas that could become products for defence and security. Directly comparable challenge-based funding model with grants aimed at academia, SMEs, and industry for defence innovation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/India_iDEX
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=46kNyj_GO24&t=4s
• Facebookfacebook.com/IDEX-DIO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/idex-dio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments9 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Defence Innovation Organisation