INDUS-X, An Initiative to Foster US-India Defense Innovation

The INDUS-X workshop was co-hosted by IIT Kanpur and the Pennsylvania State University to foster defense innovation collaboration between India and the US.

The IIT Kanpur and Pennsylvania State University co-hosted the INDUS-X workshop, a platform promoting innovation in defense between India and the US. The workshop highlights the contributions of academia, startups, and industry in propelling innovation within the defense sector, covering a range of topics like market access, funding, policy changes, and technology transfer.

Almost 500 individuals from both nations participated in the collaborative effort geared towards sparking transformative progress and generative new defense strategies. These approaches reflect the commitment of both countries to enhancing security and technology through partnership.

The collaborative effort between India and the United States has made substantial progress in enhancing defense excellence and cooperation through the INDUS-X (India-United States Defense Acceleration Ecosystem) workshop. The conference took place on August 29, 2023, and was co-facilitated by IIT Kanpur, Pennsylvania State University, Innovations for Defense Excellence (iDEX), the Indian Ministry of Defense, and the US Department of Defense (DoD), and US-India Business Council (USIBC).

The inception of the INDUS-X workshop was initiated soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the White House, which aligned with the creation of the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem in collaboration with the US Department of Defense. This inaugural workshop has established a concrete foundation for strengthening defense cooperation, highlighting common challenges, and enabling mentorship initiatives. The event focuses on cutting-edge practices in AI and space innovations, catering to the academic and startup ecosystems of both nations.

The primary goal of the INDUS-X workshop is to transform cutting-edge defense innovations into practical applications through partnerships between startups and academia. This approach is designed to bolster the startup ecosystem and empower entrepreneurs. The workshop essentially highlights the interconnected roles of academia and startups in driving defense innovation, aligning them with the objectives of INDUS-X, including promoting collaboration, fostering innovation, and stimulating job creation. Additionally, the workshop commemorates the collaborative energy that is propelling advancements in defense technology and global partnerships, while maintaining a firm commitment to safeguarding the Indo-Pacific region.