The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is actively supporting startups across India to contribute to defense research and development, according to Shri Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with ChannelAm, Samir outlined several initiatives aimed at fostering innovation in the defense sector. “We have established multiple mechanisms to support startups. The Technology Development Fund (TDF) provides funding to help startups advance their ideas. We also organize ‘Dare to Dream’ contests, allowing startups to propose solutions to specific defense challenges. Additionally, we have launched schemes that enable our labs to work directly with startups,” he said.
When asked about the types of startups DRDO is prioritizing, Samir emphasized that while support is available for all areas of defense technology, the focus is on disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum technologies, and autonomous systems. “These are our focus areas, but we encourage startups working in any defense-related field,” he added.
Startups looking to collaborate with DRDO are encouraged to use the TDF scheme, with detailed application procedures available on the DRDO website.
Commenting on the performance of startups in Kerala, Samir expressed optimism. “From what I’ve seen today, Kerala startups are very impressive. If this reflects the broader ecosystem, Kerala is performing extremely well in the defense startup space,” he said.
With these initiatives, DRDO is creating a platform for Indian startups to innovate, contribute to national defense, and participate in cutting-edge technological development.
