Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) launched by the Ministry of Defense in 2018, primarily aims at creation of an ecosystem to foster innovation and technology development in Defence sector.

• It encourages Industries including MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, R&D institutes & academia, and provide them grants/funding and other support to carry out R&D which has good potential for future adoption for Indian defence and aerospace needs.
• The iDex will be operated by the DIO-Defense Innovation Organization. The main functions of DIO includes
  • Check the reports submitted by iDEX
  • Provide high level policy guidance
• The Ministry had also set the Technology Development Fund alongside to hasten the initiative.