Swavlamban is the Naval Innovation & Indigenisation Organisation’s (NIIO) annual seminar, and the upcoming Swavlamban 2023 is the second edition in the series. This event aims to engage the Indian industry and academia in achieving ‘Self-reliance in Defence Sector.’
Scheduled at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan on October 4-5, 2023, Swavlamban 2023 promises to be a grand affair. It will be attended by high-level dignitaries, senior officials from the government, academia, industry, and the Armed Forces.
The seminar will feature sessions dedicated to innovation and aviation, along with a Plenary Session on the first day. Topics include discussions on the SPRINT initiative, procurement, policies, and certification. The plenary session will also witness the release of the updated Indian Navy indigenisation roadmap, ‘Swavlamban 2.0,’ and new industry challenges. Expectations are high for various launches and major policy announcements concerning all three Services.
Day 2 will focus on indigenisation and armament, including an interactive session with the industry regarding the ‘Swavlamban 2.0’ document released the previous day. This outreach aims to strengthen industry partnerships. Additionally, breakout sessions on medical innovations and participation from Defence Attaches/diplomats from over 50 Friendly Foreign Countries will round off the event.
In conclusion, NIIO’s innovative journey, coupled with the SPRINT initiative, showcases India’s commitment to self-reliance in the defence sector. Swavlamban 2023 is poised to be a significant milestone, bringing together key stakeholders to shape the future of India’s naval defence capabilities.
Background
In August 2020, India embarked on a remarkable journey towards enhancing its naval capabilities by creating the NIIO. Headed by the Vice Chief of Naval Staff, NIIO’s mission is to fuse innovation and indigenisation to bring cutting-edge technology to the Indian Navy.
NIIO serves a crucial purpose: to accelerate the integration of disruptive combat technology into the Navy, thereby enhancing its warfighting capabilities. It fosters seamless collaboration across the Navy, the Ministry of Defence (MoD), academia, and industry. Moreover, NIIO encourages naval personnel to contribute their innovative ideas.
The SPRINT initiative
As India celebrated the 75th year of independence during the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav,’ the Indian Navy proposed a bold initiative – to develop and induct at least 75 new indigenous technologies/products. The Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) and NIIO joined forces for a collaborative project named SPRINT (Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through iDEX, NIIO, and TDAC).
The SPRINT initiative was unveiled during the maiden NIIO Seminar ‘Swavlamban 2022’ held on July 18-19, 2022, in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi released 75 problem statements for Indian industries as part of iDEX(SPRINT), marking a significant milestone.
Overwhelming response to SPRINT
At a curtain raiser press interaction in New Delhi, the Vice chief of the Navy, Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, said that SPRINT garnered an overwhelming response from the industry, with 1106 proposals pouring in.
According to Vice Admiral Singh, after evaluation, 113 winners in the DISC 7 SPRINT category (with grants up to 1.5 crore) and 5 winners in the DISC 7 SPRINT-PRIME category (grants up to 10 crore) were announced. Prototypes are now in development, and more than 100 developmental agreements have been forged between iDEX and industry, with active engagement from the Indian Navy, iDEX, start-ups, and MSMEs.
The SPRINT initiative is pushing technological boundaries across various domains. Projects include blue-green lasers for underwater applications, autonomous swarms and underwater swarm drones, multiple firefighting aids, and the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for various purposes. Notably, an ultra-endurance small drone for maritime missions is also in development.