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About the Program

Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, aimed at fostering innovation and indigenisation in defence and aerospace. The program engages startups, MSMEs, innovators and academia to develop cutting-edge solutions for the Indian Armed Forces and the wider defence ecosystem.

Through iDEX, innovators gain access to problem statements issued by defence stakeholders, structured funding support, mentoring, testing environments, and pathways for adoption by the Services.

T-Hub as Partner Incubator

T-Hub is one of the top five Partner Incubators for iDEX and India's leading innovation ecosystem and startup enabler. As a Partner Incubator, T-Hub supports defence and aerospace startups through structured programs, ecosystem access, mentoring and industry connect — enabling them to build scalable, deployable solutions for national security needs.

₹340+ CrTotal project cost

₹55+ CrSpark grant disbursed

35T-DRIVE members

20Mentors associated

Focus Areas

Sixteen technology domains where iDEX challenges are actively issued by the Services, DPSUs and defence stakeholders.

AI / ML Based
Equipment

Drone &
Anti-Drone

Communication
Systems

Control
Equipment

Electronic
Warfare

Cybersecurity

Defence Electronic
Systems

Electro-Optical

Electronic
Surveillance

Internet of
Things

Sensors

Radar Training
Simulators

Unmanned Underwater
Vehicles

Material
Science

UAVs

Training
Simulators

Benefits

What selected startups get, from grant sanction through to trials and procurement pathways.

Grant funding

Milestone-based grant support under the iDEX framework, released as defined project milestones are achieved.

Direct Services access

Engagement with the Indian Armed Forces and defence PSUs — the actual end users of your solution.

Expert mentorship

Guidance from defence experts, industry leaders and domain specialists across the T-Hub network.

Testing & validation

Access to labs, testing facilities and structured user feedback to validate against real operating conditions.

Pilots & trials

Support for piloting, field trials and pathways toward potential procurement by the Services.

Ecosystem support

Collaboration opportunities and continued ecosystem access through T-Hub as Partner Incubator.

Problem statements are live

Applications are submitted through the official iDEX portal. Review the open challenges and check eligibility before you apply.

Apply Now ↗️

Who Can Apply

Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria defined by iDEX for each individual challenge.

Programme Imagery

✓DPIIT-recognised startups

Startups holding valid DPIIT recognition under the Startup India framework.

✓MSMEs registered in India

Indian-registered micro, small and medium enterprises with relevant capability.

✓Individual innovators

Innovators and early-stage teams with defence-relevant solutions.

✓Academia & R&D entities

Academic institutions and R&D-driven entities, as applicable under specific iDEX challenges.

Program Timeline

Typical progression from challenge launch to project closure.

Stage 01

Launch of problem statements

Challenges issued by the Armed Forces, DPSUs and defence stakeholders.

Stage 02

Application window opens

Submissions accepted through the official iDEX portal.

Stage 03

Evaluation & shortlisting

Technical and commercial assessment of submitted proposals.

Stage 04

Winner announced

Selected applicants notified for each challenge.

Stage 05

T-Hub connects as Partner Incubator

Onboarding, mentor mapping and execution planning begins.

Stage 06

Agreement signed

Contractual formalities completed between all parties.

Stage 07

Grant sanction & project kickoff

Funding sanctioned and development work commences.

Stage 08

Development, testing & trials

Build, iterate, validate with user feedback and field trials.

Stage 09

Demonstration and closure

Final demonstration to stakeholders and project closure.

FAQs

What is iDEX and how does it support startups?+

iDEX helps startups build defence and aerospace solutions by providing funding, user access and execution support.

What kind of funding is provided under iDEX?+

iDEX provides milestone-based grant funding, released as the startup achieves defined project milestones.

How are problem statements defined?+

Problem statements are issued by the Armed Forces, DPSUs and other defence stakeholders based on real operational needs.

What is the role of T-Hub as Partner Incubator?+

T-Hub mentors startups, reviews milestones and coordinates with iDEX to ensure smooth project execution.

How long does the program run?+

The program typically runs for 12–24 months, depending on the challenge and its milestones.

Contact Us

Queries submitted through the form are addressed directly by the Defence & Aerospace team at T-Hub.

Submit a query ↗️

Build for the
Indian Armed Forces

Program impact to date