iDEX-DIO & EdCIL India Ink MoU to Develop Dual-Use Technologies under ASPIRE Programme in New Delhi.

In September 2025, the Innovations for Defence Excellence–Defence Innovation Organisation (iDEX-DIO), under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with EdCIL (India) Limited, a Mini Ratna Category-I CPSE under the Ministry of Education (MoE), to jointly develop dual-use technologies under the Accelerating Strategic Progress in Research and Education (ASPIRE) programme.

      - The MoU was signed in New Delhi by Amit Satija, Joint Secretary (Defence Industries Production) & Additional CEO of Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), and Govind Jaiswal, Joint Secretary (Technical Education) in MoE and CMD of EdCIL (India) Limited, marking a strategic convergence of defence innovation and educational technology.

      - The collaboration seeks to extend the iDEX model, which has been instrumental in supporting over 400 defence and aerospace startups since its inception in 2018, into civilian applications, thereby creating a cross-sector innovation ecosystem.

      - Through this partnership, EdCIL will integrate academic research and student-led innovation with iDEX’s defence-focused expertise, enabling the development of solutions that cater to both military and civilian needs.

Main Point :-   (i) The initiative is expected to accelerate the procurement of indigenous technologies, reduce dependence on imports, and strengthen the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in both defence and education sectors.

      (ii) The ASPIRE programme, newly launched under this framework, will function as a bridge between defence research institutions, higher education bodies, and industry partners, ensuring that dual-use technologies reach scalable and deployable stages.