Army Synergia Conclave-2024 gets underway, aims to prepare for future conflicts
By R. Anil Kumar
Bengaluru, May 8. India’s start-up ecosystem, which is propelling India’s digital economy, is now expanding its presence in the defence domain. In the sector, start-ups are infusing fresh energy and purpose by innovating niche, cutting-edge technologies for the Indian military.
If nurtured properly, these start-ups can transform India’s military capabilities, achieve technological self-reliance.
India is the world’s largest arms importer. This is ironic, since India has longsought self-reliance in defence. The ‘Make in India’ initiative has attempted to change this reality by promoting the private sector’s role in defence production and research and development (R&D).
The production aspect is yielding slow change, but what has received traction is R&D, with start-ups enthused by the mission of innovating for Indian military.
India only began this journey a few years ago. Today, several start-ups are engaged in developing prototypes and products for the Indian military across various technologies.
The government is also tapping the start-up ecosystem through its flagship Innovations in Defence Excellence (iDEX) programme. iDEX works with R&D institutes, academia, industry, start-ups and individual innovators to create solutions for the military’s technological problems.
It is generally said that militaries prepare to fight the last war. Bengaluru-based think-tank Synergia Foundation and the Indian Army’s Southern Command are partnering in a pathbreaking initiative – a three-day Southern Star Army Synergia Conclave which began in the IT Hub of India, Bengaluru, today.
Southern Star Army Academic Industry Interface (S2 A2 I2) Bengaluru 2024 was inaugurated by Lieutenant General AK Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command on May 8, 2024 at Chopra Auditorium, ASC College and Centre.
The Conclave was organized by Dakshin Bharat Area under the leadership of Lieutenant General KS Brar, General Officer Commanding-DB Area. Senior officers from Armed forces, leading personalities from Academia and industries attended the function. Ambassador PS Raghavan, Chairman-NSAB, Professor BN Suresh, Chancellor of Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology delivered special address on the occasion.
Over 100 enterprises displayed their products. Students from leading academic institutes like Ramaiah University and Christ University attended the function.
While addressing the audience Lt Gen AK Singh GOC-in-C, Southern Command highlighted the enormous opportunities presented by the ecosystem for defence manufacturing in Bengaluru.
Lt Gen KS Brar brought out various options available for MSMEs and start-ups for getting connected to various agencies of the Army.
This three day event is a part of a series of such events previously organised in Chennai, Pune and Hyderabad. A similar event is also scheduled in the last week of May 2024 in Coimbatore.
