The startup landscape in Kerala is witnessing a surge in possibilities, especially in the defence and aerospace sectors. However, despite the significant opportunities presented by the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, Kerala-based startups are yet to fully tap into this potential, as discussed during a session at Huddle Global 2023.
Sanjeev Nair, the CEO of Technopark, highlighted the underutilization of opportunities offered by the Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) Scheme. Launched by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), iDEX aims to foster innovation and technology development in the critical defence sector. It is a flagship initiative managed by the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), providing support and grants to establish an ecosystem involving MSMEs, startups, innovators, R&D institutes, and academia. Despite the scheme’s comprehensive support, Nair pointed out that the number of Kerala startups leveraging this flagship project remains disappointingly low.
With India actively pursuing self-reliance in critical domains, Group Captain Saurabh Shiv of the Indian Air Force (IAF) urged startups to capitalize on the ecosystem created to acquire innovative solutions and technologies in the defence sector. The IAF actively seeks indigenous solutions to enhance self-reliance and capacity, offering challenges and funding for startups to explore opportunities in the defence sector. Shiv emphasized that the ball is in the court of budding companies, encouraging them to rise up and contribute to the nation’s defence capabilities.
Rajaguru Nathan K, Director of Astromedia Space Pvt Ltd, shared insights into his company’s journey with the iDEX scheme, starting as a space-medicine startup. This experience showcased the potential for startups to evolve within the framework of iDEX, contributing to the defence and aerospace sectors.
In a parallel discussion on “Corporate Innovation and Scaling up with Startups,” participants highlighted the willingness of corporate entities to engage with dedicated and hardworking startups aligned with their business requirements. The consensus was that startups seeking corporate support and collaboration for scaling up should thoroughly understand the problems they address and demonstrate how their solutions alleviate customer pain points.
Panelists shared their experiences, insights, and perspectives, underscoring that, in today’s world, the physical location of a startup is less relevant as long as their solutions meet the demands of businesses. The collaborative environment between startups and corporate entities is crucial for mutual growth and innovation.
The Huddle Global 2023 event, attended by around 1,500 delegates, showcased cutting-edge products from emerging sectors such as robotics, AI, machine learning, augmented reality, virtual reality, life sciences, space tech, blockchain, IoT, e-governance, fintech, health tech, agritech, edutech, and SaaS from across the country. This gathering provided a platform for startups to display their innovations and connect with potential collaborators, investors, and partners.
As Kerala’s startup ecosystem continues to evolve, bridging the gap between innovative solutions and industry demands in the defence and aerospace sectors will be crucial. The untapped potential presents an opportunity for startups to play a significant role in bolstering India’s capabilities in defence technology, contributing to the vision of self-reliance and innovation in critical domains. With the iDEX scheme offering support and encouragement, it is now up to Kerala-based startups to seize these opportunities, rise to the challenges, and actively contribute to the country’s defence and aerospace advancements.