The Ministry of Defence’s flagship initiative, Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), marked a significant milestone on June 25, 2024, by signing its 350th contract. This landmark agreement, made in New Delhi, is with SpacePixxel Technologies Pvt Ltd for the design and development of a miniaturised satellite capable of carrying multiple payloads up to 150 kgs, including Electro-Optical, Infrared, Synthetic Aperture Radar, and Hyperspectral payloads.
The contract was signed by Shri Anurag Bajpai, Additional Secretary (Defence Production) & CEO of Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), and Shri Awais Ahmed Nadeem Alduri, Founder & CEO of SpacePixxel Technologies Pvt Ltd. The event was witnessed by Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane and other senior officials from the Ministry of Defence. SpacePixxel Technologies has been actively engaged in developing high-resolution hyperspectral imaging satellites for detailed earth observation.
This 350th iDEX contract aims to innovate in the field of space electronics by miniaturising various payloads traditionally deployed on large satellites. The new modular small satellite will integrate these miniaturised payloads as needed, offering benefits such as faster and cost-effective deployment, easier manufacturing, scalability, adaptability, and reduced environmental impact.
In his address, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane commended the commitment of new defence innovators for advancing technology and national security. He highlighted the importance of combining indigenisation with innovation, stating that domestic capabilities provide a platform for experimentation and development, which in turn fuels the creation of new technologies and solutions that can be produced locally. He assured continuous support to innovators at every stage.
iDEX, which won the prestigious Prime Minister Award for Public Policy in Innovation Category in 2021, has become a pivotal force in the defence sector. Launched by the Defence Innovation Organisation under the Department of Defence Production, iDEX has initiated 11 editions of the Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC) and recently introduced the Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme to promote innovations in critical and strategic defence technologies.
In a relatively short time, iDEX has fostered a vibrant community of over 400 start-ups and MSMEs within the defence sector. To date, it has cleared the procurement of 35 items worth over Rs 2,000 crore, created numerous job opportunities, and significantly contributed to the development of the defence ecosystem.
