ID
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, Government of India

iDEX Open Challenge

Pays Indian startups and MSMEs up to ₹1.5 crore to pitch defence and aerospace technology.

The iDEX Open Challenge is a grant run by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), under the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, for Indian innovators, startups and MSMEs building technology or products with defence or aerospace applications. Applicants submit a proposal through the online portal before the round's deadline; selected applicants get to pitch to the iDEX grand j

iDEX looks for innovators, startups and MSMEs with a technology or product that has defence or aerospace applications — autonomous systems, intelligent machines, advanced materials, predictive algorithms and similar frontier engineering. It targets India's military modernisation needs rather than any single specified problem statement.

CycleiHow often this grant runs - e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.No fixed schedule
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.30 Sept 2026
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.-
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.-
Award typeiThe form of funding - grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.-
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.-

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