THE ANNUAL IDEA AND INNOVATION COMPETITION 2024 SHOWS INDIAN ARMY IN-HOUSE INNOVATIONS

INN/New Delhi, @Infodeaofficial

In the presence of General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff, the Indian Army held the Inno-Yoddha 2024-25 Idea & Innovation Competition and Seminar at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The Indian Army organises Inno-Yoddha every year. It finds internal innovations to improve operational, logistical, and training capacities, reduce current capability gaps, and boost operational effectiveness.

The Indian Army faces a variety of operational difficulties that are made worse by the unpredictable nature of the terrain, the weather, and enemy threats. Based on the difficulties faced by the soldiers in the field army, the Indian Army encourages in-house inventions. Because of their enthusiasm, professional skill, and technical focus, these troops are able to solve problems in their respective fields with the help of their inherent experience.

The “Inno-Yoddha 2024-25” was a tournament that encouraged soldiers to think creatively by facilitating new ideas and innovative solutions. Research and Development (R&D), Design and Development (D&D), Army Technology Board (ATB) Projects, and Base Workshops advance the chosen innovations through product enhancement. For the chosen innovations, intellectual property rights (IPRs) are also acquired. The technology is handed to the industry after successful ruggedization and upgrade in order to satisfy the Indian Army’s needs for industrial-grade bulk production. Additionally, this initiative supports the Indian Army’s objectives to achieve “Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

Following selection at the unit, formation, and command headquarters levels, a total of 75 innovations from various disciplines within the Indian Army were deployed this year. Twenty-two of the top 75 innovations were showcased at the occasion and honoured by the COAS. To meet the needs of field formations, these will be produced under the direction of the Army Design Bureau.

The Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, praised the inventors’ inventiveness and innovation and urged all levels of the organisation to adopt a critical thinking and creative problem-solving mindset. “Recent conflicts have shown that innovation is not just a word; it is a mindset,” the COAS stated during the ceremony. It is the catalyst that propels development and moulds the future. He congratulated the competitors, stating that they had contributed their ideas to the tournament via their diligence and hard work. “Countless hours of thought, research, and testing go into each idea – a testament to their determination to contribute to the force and the nation,” the COAS added.

Significant innovations have been cultivated at Inno-Yoddha during the last four years, leading to the successful completion of 21 innovations and the filing of 26 IPRs. For three of these advances, technology has also been handed to the commercial sector. Two of them, Agniastra by Red Kite Digital Tech and Exploder by FC Tech, have already been made available; Agniastra was just introduced by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) during the Army Commanders Conference on October 12, 2024, while Exploder was launched in June 2024. IS Trading Company now owns the third innovation, Vidyut Rakshak.