NEW DELHI: “India is entering a golden era of defence innovation, and its foundation is being laid by our innovators & young entrepreneurs who are integrating economic strength, strategic thinking and technological advancements,” said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while addressing start-ups, MSMEs, academia, industry partners & venture capitalists during the fourth edition of the Indian Navy’s Swavlamban seminar in New Delhi. 

Stressing on the need for India to remain proactive, ahead of the curve and future-ready as it cannot adopt a reactive approach in today’s rapidly evolving world & constantly shifting geopolitical landscape, he credited the innovators for coming forth with path-breaking solutions & helping the nation emerge as a builder, creator and leader & not merely a buyer.

Defence Minister asserted that the indigenisation movement being witnessed in the country today isn’t just due to policy; but the hard work of all stakeholders, and as a result, India is making giant strides towards becoming a technology exporter from an importer. “If India is rising as a maritime power today, it is due to the contribution of our innovators along with the Navy,” he said.

Sharing insights on the emergence of new dimensions in the field of defence & national security, Rajnath Singh exhorted the private sector to adopt a profit-plus approach and come up with platforms & systems that become symbols of the world’s trust in India. “A profit-plus approach encompasses monetary profit, nationalism, a sense of duty and strategic responsibility. Our goal should not be limited to economic activity; it should be treated as a national mission. The private industry must expand its role and move forward at a new pace in production, technology, design & innovation, keeping national interests in mind,” he said. He also urged the private sector to strive to increase its contribution in defence manufacturing to 50% or more in the coming years.

Highlighting the long-term financial burden of maintenance, repair, overhaul, and spare parts supply for defence equipment imported from foreign countries, Defence Minister emphasised the need to minimise import dependency and create a strong & self-reliant domestic supply chain. “If we strengthen local manufacturing of components and subsystems, our indigenous content will increase rapidly. This will not only enhance capability, but ensure cost efficiency, reliability, and strategic independence. This is possible only when the private sector, start-ups, R&D labs, and government institutions move forward with a shared vision,” he said, underlining that, in the future, defence innovation, indigenous design, advanced manufacturing, and strategic autonomy will all become core strengths of development.

While Rajnath Singh endorsed enhanced collaboration for a robust defence ecosystem, he called upon the private industry to identify and apprise the Government about the next big platform, disruptive technology, or a path-breaking innovation. He extended full support of the Government and defence institutions in collectively finding solutions to any challenge. “India is changing, the defence sector is changing, geopolitics is changing. We too must change our thinking. We must march ahead at an unprecedented pace. This is not the time to retreat, but to forge a path forward,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi stated that with each successive edition, Swavlamban has grown in scope, scale, and participation – evolving from 800 participants in its maiden edition to an impressive gathering of 3,000 last year. Out of the 565 iDEX challenges announced so far, the Indian Navy owns a significant share of 35%, and Swavlamban has been central to achieving this, he added.

The Chief of the Naval Staff highlighted that the products developed by start-ups and MSMEs through iDEX challenges have not only strengthened the Navy’s capabilities but have also expanded opportunities for their direct procurement by Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and the Central Armed Police Forces, reflecting an integrated whole-of-defence approach that leverages innovation across the Armed Forces.

Swavlamban, an annual event of Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation, is being conducted in collaboration with Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers and Defence Innovation Organisation. It provides a comprehensive platform for showcasing indigenous technologies and fostering collaboration between the Indian Navy and the nation's innovation ecosystem.