NEW DELHI: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has initiated new deep tech and cutting-edge policies under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme to identify and involve private sector entities in the collaborative development of emerging technologies.
The TDF scheme extends financial support and expertise to upgrade existing products, systems, processes, and their applications by reducing production costs, improving functionality and quality. It also promotes the indigenous development of futuristic technologies with defence applications.
The Ministry of Defence had sanctioned 80 projects worth about Rs 335 crore through the TDF scheme until December 2024. Under this scheme, the government offers up to Rs 50 crore per project as a grant.
According to available information, a total of 18 technologies developed by Indian industries under the TDF have been successfully transferred to the users. A new scheme to fund cutting edge research like what the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) does in the US has been added to the TDF scheme in 2025. DARPA is a research and development agency of the US Department of Defence responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military.
Additionally, private entities are funded through grants to develop specific technologies, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth said in the Lok Sabha on Friday in response to a question by MP Sanjna Jatav.
According to available information, 264 projects, amounting to approximately Rs 930 crore, have been approved under the DRDO’s policy for grants-in-aid to the industry, including MMSEs and start-ups.
The minister said that the DRDO laboratories have structured research roadmaps designed to keep pace with global advancements in defence technologies and products. Furthermore, the DRDO prepares a bi-monthly document that provides a global review of new technologies and systems developed worldwide.
A global scan is conducted using authoritative frameworks and technological developments are actively monitored in the public domain, including social media platforms. The DRDO also provides its scientists with online access to various international databases in the field of defence science and technology.
Further, the DRDO has established a network of Industry Academia Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoEs) to foster synergy among academia, industry and its own research bodies to ensure the effective transition of academic research into industrial applications for the indigenisation of technologies.
A total of 15 DIA-CoEs have been set up across the country at premier institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technologies, Indian Institute of Science and central universities, which promote directed research, facilitating the development of critical and futuristic technologies for defence and security applications.
Each DIA-CoE focuses on technology development in designated futuristic areas across 84 identified research verticals. A standard operating procedure for the industry’s engagement with academia has been activated to streamline projects through DIA-CoEs.
In 2024, 73 projects were sanctioned with a total cost of Rs 275 crore, in which 266 researchers and 10 new academic institutes have been engaged. This makes it a total of 274 sanctioned projects at a total cost of Rs 984 crore, engaging 900 researchers and 46 academic institutes, so far.