Stanford, California, Monday, September 8, 2024
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), in collaboration with Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation and the Hoover Institution, is pleased to announce the third edition of the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) Summit.
This event will be held across two days, September 9-10, 2024, at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, bringing together leading defense policymakers from Washington and New Delhi with a central focus on strengthening defense and advanced technology innovative partnerships.
The third summit is entitled “Harnessing Investment Opportunities to Enhance Cross-Border Defense Innovation Ecosystems” and will focus on the critical role of private capital in advancing the defense innovation sector.
The event will facilitate interactions between American and Indian leaders in defense innovation, including startups, venture capitalists, academia, accelerators, and industry professionals, to foster co-production and investment opportunities.
The INDUS X initiative is spearheaded by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) from the Indian Ministry of Defence, and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), and the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Shri Rajnath Singh, the Defence Minister of India, recently concluded a successful four-day visit to Washington, D.C.. During his visit, the Defence Minister held a bilateral meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. Both leaders commended the efforts of the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) in establishing a defense innovation bridge between the two countries.
Commenting on INDUS-X, Shri Rajnath Singh, the Defence Minister of India said,“Indian and American startups and innovators are important to our national security. The India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) Summit gives technology leaders in India and the United States a vibrant platform to foster partnerships and collaborations in the defense sector. Wishing the event a grand success.”
His counterpart, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said, “As the third INDUS-X summit kicks off with dozens of American and Indian innovators and defense leaders, I’m proud to see our investors, businesses, and researchers working under INDUS-X to address critical defense technology requirements and to co-produce cutting-edge military capabilities that will safeguard a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Both defense heads recognized INDUS-X’s role in creating robust networks across startups, industry, academia, and governments, accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, and enhancing the war-fighting capabilities of both nations.
The summit will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, and roundtable sessions with leaders from both the private and the public sectors touching on themes along the lines of strengthening defense and advanced technology partnerships, funding defense innovation, and resilient supply chains.
The INDUS-X Tech Expo will showcase cutting-edge technologies and innovations from defense and aerospace startups and companies in an event that will draw venture capital firms, academics, accelerators, and tech professionals from the Bay Area.
On Monday, September 9, an upgraded Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between iDEX and DIU will be signed, along with the release of the “INDUS-X Impact Report — A Year of Breakthroughs,” and the launch of the official INDUS-X webpage on the iDEX and DIU websites.
In addition, the summit will witness the announcement of several key initiatives and the book launch of “Unit X,” by Raj Shah, Managing Partner of Shield Capital and former director of the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit.
On Tuesday, September 10, the United States Institute of Peace will host INDUS-X leaders for the private Senior Leaders’ Forum with industry and academia.
The third INDUS-X summit will further deepen and broaden the U.S.-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
About the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF):
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) is committed to creating the most powerful partnership between the United States and India. As the only independent not-for-profit institution dedicated to strengthening the U.S.-India partnership in Washington, D.C., and in New Delhi, USISPF is the trusted partner for businesses, non-profit organizations, the diaspora, and the governments of India and the United States.States.
For media inquiries and further information, please contact:
Ankit Jain
[email protected]
Akshobh Giridharadas
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