HQ IDS-CENJOWS seminar seeks to boost MSME and startup participation in defence ecosystem
New Delhi, June 12. A two-day seminar aimed at familiarising micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups with India’s defence procurement and innovation ecosystem concluded in New Delhi on June 12, bringing together more than 150 emerging companies, venture capitalists and industry stakeholders.
The seminar, titled ‘Demystifying Defence Procurement, iDEX, TPCR and Testing Procedures for MSMEs and Start-ups’, was jointly organised by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) and the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS). Around 10 venture capital firms also participated in the event, which focused on enhancing industry understanding of procurement procedures and indigenous capability development.
Over the course of the two-day programme, participants received detailed briefings on the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP), the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework, indigenisation initiatives, the Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap (TPCR), and certification and user trial mechanisms.
The sessions provided practical insights into the complete procurement cycle, prototype development processes, technology readiness levels and avenues for collaboration with defence organisations. Experts from key defence institutions interacted directly with industry representatives, helping clarify regulatory, technical and procedural requirements. Dedicated question-and-answer sessions translated complex processes into practical guidance for startups and manufacturers.
According to the Ministry of Defence, one of the major outcomes of the seminar was the creation of a structured framework of procedural knowledge tailored to the needs of MSMEs and startups, while also strengthening linkages across the defence innovation ecosystem.
Discussions during the event also underscored opportunities for import substitution, indigenous technology development and greater participation by industry in capability-building initiatives.
The seminar concluded with a renewed emphasis on promoting self-reliance in defence manufacturing through sustained engagement with industry, simplification of procedures and deeper integration of MSMEs and start-ups into the country’s defence innovation architecture.
