DRDO Chief Announces to Fund Defence Start-ups

DRDO has planned to support start-ups and incubation centres to boost defence equipment production in India and bring down India’s imports

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief, Dr Satheesh Reddy has announced financial support to start-ups and other centres working in the research, development and production areas in the defence sector. While addressing the 49^th Raising Day celebrations of Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Vizag, the chief highlighted the need to extend support to the segment to bring down the defence equipment imports of the country.

Incubation Centres

According to Deccan Chronicle reports, Dr Reddy encouraged the setting up of defence incubation centres in India to help the youngsters shape their ideas into a full product. He said that DRDO planned to provide financial support to everyone engaged in the defence segment. The organisation would also play a major role in research and development and work towards achieving an efficient defence segment.

Defence agenda

The DRDO chief shared that its laboratories would work on a 10-year agenda for the nation to become fully self-reliant in the defence sector. He also informed that the country had achieved around 60 per cent local production of defence equipment and to attain the 100 per cent target, DRDO would work on aiding the start-ups.