At the ongoing Huddle Global 2024 event, two important Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged, marking the official launch of the Kerala Defence Innovation Zone (K-DIZ). This initiative, a partnership between Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), aims to drive innovation, foster collaboration, and create new opportunities within India’s defence sector.
The MoUs were signed by KSUM CEO Shri Anoop Ambika, Shri Ram Prakash, Additional Director (TDF, DRDO), and Col Sanjeev Nair (Retd), CEO of Technopark, with the ceremony being graced by prominent figures, including Dr. Rathan U Kelkar, Secretary, Electronics & Information Technology, Government of Kerala, and Dr. S. Somanath, Chairman of ISRO.
The launch of K-DIZ represents a major step in creating an ecosystem that connects key stakeholders, offering a platform for startups and innovators—particularly those from Kerala—to collaborate with the Armed Forces. “K-DIZ will act as a key enabler, connecting entrepreneurs, defence professionals, and industry leaders, providing access to critical information, networking opportunities, and market connections,” said Shri Anoop Ambika, underscoring the significance of this collaborative space.
Col Sanjeev Nair (Retd) highlighted that K-DIZ will be a cornerstone of the upcoming Centre of Excellence (CoE) focused on Defence and Aerospace, which is set to be developed within the Emerging Technology Hub at Technopark’s Phase IV (Technocity) in Thiruvananthapuram.
The ceremony also saw the participation of several senior military and defence leaders, including Cmdr Mathew John of Southern Air Command, Brigadier Salil MP, Station Commander of Pangode Military Station, and Group Captain Rohit Kaura, Program Director of DIO-iDEX. Vice Admiral (Retd) Sreekumar Nair, MD of Keltron, and G. Levin, CEO of Kerala Space Park, were also in attendance.
In his remarks, Cmdr Mathew John emphasized the importance of collaboration between the armed forces and the innovation ecosystem, stating, “The armed forces are moving towards greater integration and modernization, aiming to become a future-ready force. This collaboration opens up vast opportunities for innovators to contribute to this transformation.”
Brigadier Salil MP further added that the armed forces have long been at the forefront of adopting cutting-edge technology, from surveillance and navigation to operational logistics. “K-DIZ will serve as a platform for leveraging the intersection of military needs, industrial innovation, and academic expertise,” he noted.
The K-DIZ initiative is expected to play a critical role in advancing India’s defence capabilities while providing startups with the tools and resources to develop technologies that align with the strategic needs of the armed forces. As K-DIZ becomes fully operational, it will pave the way for deeper partnerships between the defence sector and the technology and innovation communities across Kerala and beyond.
