Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh unveiled a series of policy initiatives aimed at strengthening the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)-industry partnership and creating greater opportunities for MSMEs and start-ups during the ‘VIMARSH’ DRDO-Industry Synergy Meet in New Delhi on September 15, 2026.
The initiatives are focused on lowering technical and financial entry barriers for MSMEs and deep-tech start-ups through direct funding, incubation support and dedicated access to DRDO testing facilities. A standardised and secure framework for sharing DRDO-developed software source codes with licensee industries was also launched to accelerate software-defined defence capabilities and facilitate effective obsolescence management.
Nine Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology (LAToTs) were handed over to 13 manufacturing partners in the presence of the Defence Minister, enabling the industry to undertake commercial production of advanced defence systems developed by DRDO.
Strategic MoUs were also exchanged with the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and Laghu Udyog Bharati (LUB) to expand DRDO’s outreach to industry and promote greater participation at the grassroots level. DRDO further signed a contract with the Quality Council of India for System for Advance Manufacturing Assessment and Rating (SAMAR) Version 2.0, aimed at benchmarking the manufacturing maturity of domestic defence enterprises.
Addressing the gathering, the Defence Minister emphasised that DRDO-industry collaboration must extend beyond production to encompass the entire defence technology value chain, including research, design, testing, certification and manufacturing.
He stated that DRDO possesses knowledge and technology, industry brings scale and manufacturing capability, start-ups contribute innovation and agility, while the youth represent the aspirations of a New India. The convergence of these capabilities, he said, would be critical to realising India’s ambition of emerging as a global hub for defence manufacturing.
The Defence Minister reiterated that the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ extends beyond economic growth and encompasses technological self-reliance, social inclusion, environmental sustainability and strategic security. He emphasised that by 2047, India must attain self-reliance in critical technologies, significantly enhance indigenous content, achieve substantial growth in defence exports and establish a robust presence in global supply chains.
Highlighting the transformative reforms undertaken in the defence sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Defence Minister referred to initiatives including the Positive Indigenisation Lists, ‘Make in India’, iDEX and ADITI, as well as the allocation of 25 per cent of the defence R&D budget to the private sector. These measures, he said, are aimed at reducing import dependence and strengthening India’s indigenous defence industrial base.
He also highlighted the role of the Technology Development Fund in supporting start-ups and noted that several technologies developed under the initiative have progressed towards production. The iDEX ecosystem, he said, has further strengthened defence innovation by enabling start-ups to develop solutions based on the operational requirements of the Armed Forces.
Describing MSMEs and start-ups as important drivers of innovation and self-reliance, the Defence Minister underscored their growing contribution to the defence ecosystem through the development of components, sub-systems and advanced technologies. He called for their deeper integration into the defence supply chain alongside established large industries.
The Defence Minister stated that the latest initiatives would promote industry-led R&D, provide funding and mentorship to MSMEs and start-ups, strengthen academia-industry collaboration and encourage investment in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing, hypersonics and directed-energy systems.
He further observed that India’s transition from a defence importer to an increasingly capable defence exporter has opened significant opportunities for MSMEs and start-ups, particularly in areas such as drone technology, AI and cyber security.
“MSMEs are the backbone of the Indian economy and a critical strength of the defence ecosystem. They need to consistently focus on quality, delivery, innovation and global standards, while expanding partnerships with large companies,” the Defence Minister said.
Emphasising the strategic importance of indigenous technology, Shri Rajnath Singh stated that a nation possessing its own technology has the ability to shape its own future. He called for self-reliance to become an integral part of India’s national character and highlighted the need for companies to invest in emerging technologies to secure future strategic advantages.
Speaking on the occasion, Defence Secretary, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh said that VIMARSH 2026, with the theme ‘Varta se Vikas’, has been designed to align cutting-edge commercial innovation with national defence preparedness and systematically integrate private-sector capabilities into the core of the defence ecosystem.
He stated that the forum seeks to transform the national security framework from a transactional buyer-seller relationship into a collaborative and co-created technology ecosystem.
Highlighting the transformation of India’s defence industrial base through sustained self-reliance initiatives, Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh stated that the expansion of technology transfer has enabled the establishment of parallel production lines to meet the requirements of the Armed Forces, while simultaneously benefiting MSMEs and addressing limitations arising from a restricted manufacturing base.
He informed that, to date, more than 2,300 Technology Transfers (ToTs) have been handed over to over 1,100 industries. He further stated that technologies relating to approximately 50 DRDO-developed missile systems have been made available to industry to promote wider participation in defence manufacturing.
A book titled ‘Defence Systems for Resilient Bharat – Advancing Aatmanirbharta in Defence’, documenting significant defence systems developed by DRDO’s technology clusters between 2014 and 2026, was also released during the event.
The guidelines for Human Resource Outsourcing Service Contracts in DRDO were also released. The guidelines provide a comprehensive framework covering service specifications, selection of service providers, contract administration, performance monitoring and compliance with contractual and statutory obligations for human resource outsourcing across DRDO laboratories.
Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Finance) Shri Vishvajit Sahay and Distinguished Scientist & Director General (Production Coordination & Services Interaction), DRDO, Dr (Smt) Chandrika Kaushik were present on the occasion.
During the technical sessions, Directors General of DRDO Technological Clusters presented technology roadmaps covering Aeronautical Systems, Missiles, Armaments, Microelectronics and Naval Systems. DRDO Headquarters also outlined measures to simplify procedural compliance, expedite access to testing and other facilities, and reduce licensing timelines.
The High-Level Panel Discussion brought together senior representatives from DRDO, the Department of Defence Production and the Armed Forces to deliberate on mechanisms for accelerating technology absorption, optimising Development-cum-Production Partner models and ensuring the rapid induction of indigenous technologies into operational service.
The flagship event was attended by over 250 defence industry leaders, representatives of industry chambers, senior civil and military officials and DRDO scientists. Secretary, DPIIT also participated in the meet.
