The second edition of the Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation (NIIO) Seminar, ‘Swavlamban 2023,’ is set to take place on October 4-5, 2023.
This event follows the inaugural seminar in July 2022, where the Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘SPRINT’ initiative, presenting 75 challenges to startups and MSMEs. These ‘SPRINT Challenges’ aim to promote the use of indigenous technology within the Indian Navy, aligning with the goal of developing at least 75 technologies or products as part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebration.
The ‘SPRINT’ initiative is a collaborative effort involving the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), and it stands for ‘Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), NIIO, and Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC).’ The response to this initiative has been remarkable, with 1106 proposals received.
Following a rigorous evaluation process, 113 winners in the DISC 7 SPRINT category (with grants up to 1.5 crores) and 5 winners in the DISC 7 SPRINT-PRIME category (with grants up to 10 crores) were announced. These winners are currently working on developing prototypes, with over 100 developmental agreements established between iDEX, industry, and the Indian Navy.
Various cutting-edge technologies are advancing under this initiative, including blue-green lasers for underwater use, autonomous weaponized swarms, underwater swarm drones, multiple firefighting aids, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for diverse applications, and the creation of an ultra-endurance small drone for maritime missions.
The culmination of these efforts will be showcased during the ‘Swavlamban-2023’ event in New Delhi on October 4-5, 2023, where 75 prototypes, including live demonstrations of promising technologies, will be presented.
Background:
In July 2022, Prime Minister Modi unveiled the ‘SPRINT Challenges’ during the NIIO seminar ‘Swavlamban’ in New Delhi. These challenges are designed to bolster the use of indigenous technology within the Indian Navy as part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ initiative. The collaborative project involves NIIO, the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), and is named ‘SPRINT.’
During his address, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the importance of self-reliance in India’s defence forces, underlining the significance of organizing the ‘Swavlamban’ seminar for a self-reliant Navy. He praised the goal of creating 75 indigenous technologies and expressed confidence in achieving this milestone. He stressed the need for continuous innovation, connecting premier institutions like IITs with defence research, and opening defence R&D to the private sector, academia, MSMEs, and startups.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the transformation in the defence sector, with a shift from being the world’s biggest defence importer to a growing exporter. He highlighted the changing nature of threats, extending beyond traditional domains to include space, cyberspace, and economic and social realms, making self-reliance critical.
Overall, these initiatives and efforts underscore India’s commitment to self-reliance in defence and its aspiration to become a global hub for manufacturing.