The Union Minister of Defence has approved enhancement of funding under “Technology Development Fund” (TDF) scheme of Ministry of Defence from Rs 10 crore to Rs 50 crore per project. The TDF scheme, executed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Under this scheme DRDO will supported to develop various indigenously designed components, products, systems and technologies by MSMEs sectors companies and start-ups.
It is already noted that the 25 per cent of defence R&D budget was earmarked for private sector, start-ups and academia in Union Budget 2022-23. The enhanced funding is in line with the budget announcement and it will give further boost the vision of ‘Aatmanirbharta in defence’.
The TDF Scheme aimed to boost the defence manufacturing in India by encouraging the Indian industry to innovate and develop defence products, technologies and system in order to place India on the self-reliance trajectory.
The scheme facilitates up to 90 per cent of the total project cost and allows industry to work in consortium with another industry/academia. With the enhanced funding, the industry and startups will be able to develop more complex technologies for existing and future weapon systems and platforms. Till date, 56 projects have been sanctioned under TDF scheme.
