DRDO launches technology fund
Three new problem statements have been launched recently to expand the startup network in the Aeronautics, Aerospace and Defence sector, State Minister for Defence Shripad Naik said in a written reply to parliament on 4 Dec 2019.
Apart from the above, Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has launched a program termed as Technology Development Fund (TDF) for meeting the requirements of Tri-Services, Defence Production and DRDO, he said.
The scheme has been established to promote self-reliance in Defence Technology as part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative by encouraging participation of public and private industries especially MSMEs.
Further, ‘Make-II’ procedure has been simplified to encourage wider participation of Indian industry, with impetus for MSME and start-ups sector and timely induction of equipment into Indian Armed forces.
The ‘Start-ups’ recognized by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) from time to time, are eligible to participate under ‘Make-II’ procedure.
In addition, the frame work for implementation of ‘Make-II’ at OFB and DPSU level has also been notified.
Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has evolved a new industry friendly Transfer of Technology (ToT) policy for transfer of DRDO developed technologies to industries.
DRDO has also promulgated new patent policy to facilitate Indian industries to get free access to use DRDO patents.
Following policy initiatives have been undertaken by the Government to promote Defence Exports:
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the export of munitions list items has been simplified to reduce the processing time for export authorizations.
A completely end-to-end online portal for receiving and processing authorization permission has been developed. The applications submitted on this portal are digitally signed and the digitally signed authorization are issued.
The Government has notified the Open General Export License (OGEL) – a one-time export license, which permits the industry to export specified items to specified destinations, enumerated in the OGEL, without seeking export authorisation on case to case basis during the validity of the OGEL.
Scheme for Promotion of Defence Exports has been notified to provide an opportunity to the prospective exporters an option to get their product certified by the Government and provides access to the testing infrastructure of Defence Ministry for initial validation of the product and its subsequent field trials.
The certificate can be produced by the prospective exporter for marketing their products suitably in the global market.
A separate Cell has been formed in the Department of Defence Production to co-ordinate and follow up on export related action including enquiries received from various countries and facilitate private sector and public sector companies for export promotion.
Defence attaches at Indian embassies and missions are tasked to take up actions for promoting exports of Indian made defence products both of public and private sector in the countries to which they are attached.
DRDO provides all necessary support to the industries for export of DRDO designed and developed product/s. DRDO has evolved a compendium of “DRDO Developed Product with Potential for Export”, which provides the necessary and handy information about the products ready for export.
Meanwhile, 194 Start-ups are currently registered with Start-up India operating in the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework which aims to achieve self-reliance and to foster innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace Sector by engaging Industries including MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, R&D institutes and academia.
Forty-four iDEX winners have so far been identified for 14 problem statements, said Naik. fiinews.com
