INDUS-X Summit To Strengthen US-India Defence Innovation Partnership

The third edition of the INDUS-X Summit concluded in California, marking a significant milestone in fostering a joint defence innovation ecosystem between India and the United States.

Held on 9-10 September 2024, this event was co-organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) and Stanford University. It highlighted the growing cooperation between the two countries in the realm of defence innovation and set the stage for deeper collaboration.

One of the key outcomes of the summit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) and the Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) under the US Department of Defense.

This agreement is designed to boost cooperation in defence innovation, opening new avenues for joint research, industry partnerships, and investments between the two nations. As part of the summit, the INDUS-X Impact Report was released and a new official webpage was launched to foster further engagement.

The summit served as a critical platform for showcasing next-generation technologies developed by startups and MSMEs. It also facilitated valuable discussions through two advisory forums—the Senior Advisory Group and the Senior Leaders Forum—where experts from diverse sectors like defence, academia, think tanks and investment firms shared insights on future technology trends, capacity building and funding opportunities for defence innovation.

Leading the Indian delegation, Joint Secretary (Defence Industries Promotion) Amit Satija emphasised that the summit reaffirmed the commitment of both India and the US to advancing defence technology through innovation and collaboration. Since its inception in June 2023, during the Indian Prime Minister’s state visit to the US, the INDUS-X initiative has achieved remarkable progress, establishing itself as a cornerstone of the US-India defence partnership.