The Defence Ministry has announced measures at the VIMARSH DRDO-Industry Synergy Meet aimed at bringing more MSMEs and deep-tech startups into defence production.
The package includes direct funding, incubation support, access to DRDO testing facilities and a mechanism to share software source code with licensed industry partners in specified cases. DRDO also handed over technology-transfer licensing agreements to manufacturing partners.
The policy issue is how to widen the industrial base without weakening security, certification or intellectual-property controls. Wider access to testing infrastructure and technology can reduce entry barriers that smaller firms often face in defence procurement.
