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Highlighting benefits of the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme, the Ministry of Defence has said that the scheme is encouraging the participation of public/private industries, especially start-ups and MSMEs, to create an ecosystem aimed at enhancing the capabilities in cutting-edge technology and promoting ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence. 

The TDF scheme is a flagship programme of Ministry of Defence executed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the 'Make in India’ initiative. The Ministry further noted that so far, a total of 77 projects, with a commitment of over Rs 300 crore, have been sanctioned to various industries, and 27 defence technologies have been successfully realised under the scheme.

The main objectives of the TDF scheme are to provide Grant in Aid to Indian industries, including MSMEs & start-ups, as well as academic and scientific institutions for the development of defence and dual use technologies that are currently not available with the Indian defence Industry; to engage with the private industries, especially MSMEs and start-ups, to bring in the culture of Design & Development of Military Technology and support them with Grant in Aid; to focus on Research, Design & Development of Niche technologies which are being developed for the first time in the country and to create a bridge amongst the Armed Forces, research organisations, academia and qualifying/certifying agencies with private sector entities.