In New Delhi: The India-United States Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS X) was formally introduced on June 21 during a gathering in Washington, DC, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence. The program aims to promote technological developments in the defense industry by encouraging collaboration and innovation between Indian and US defense entrepreneurs.

The two-day INDUS X event brought together government representatives, leaders in the defense sector, think tanks, investors, and start-ups from both nations. It was jointly organized by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), an arm of the Ministry of Defence, and the US Department of Defence (DoD).

In his opening keynote address, US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall emphasized the expanding ties between India and the US and the enormous potential for cooperation in the deep tech fields, particularly in space and artificial intelligence (AI).

The Indian team was headed by Anurag Bajpai, Joint Secretary (Defence Industries Promotion) of the Ministry of Defence, who emphasized the importance of the inauguration of INDUS X in enhancing bilateral defense relations.

He urged Indian and American start-ups to collaborate on the creation and production of cutting-edge technology, highlighting the value of cross-sector, academic, and investor cooperation.

At the event, 15 Indian start-ups and 10 US start-ups jointly displayed cutting-edge technology in a variety of fields, including marine, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and space.

Senior US officials visited the exhibition, stressing the significance of the occasion, including Congressman Ro Khanna and Radha Iyengar Plumb, Deputy Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment.

Along with the displays, INDUS X also held roundtable conversations and panel discussions aimed at strengthening partnerships between different industries, including government, academia, and business, with a focus on startups. The conversations included subjects including export control laws and looked into potential joint ventures.