The grand finale and prize distribution ceremony of the Defence Innovation Challenge for Excellence (DICE-2024) was organised during Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru on February 12, 2025. The competition witnessed an overwhelming response, attracting applications from 47 cities across 17 states. After rigorous screening across three levels, 24 start-ups advanced to the grand finale, with winners selected across three categories: Revenue Stage, Pre-Revenue Stage, and Idea Stage. These are:

Revenue Stage

• Winner: Shravan Yadav, Auxobit Aerospace Private Limited, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
• Runner-up: Nikhil Rajput, NxtQube - Aerogravity Pvt. Ltd., Nashik

Pre-Revenue Stage

• Winner: A. Gyanesh Kumar Rao, Gyanadraksha Wydhumraketustra Subrahmkr Pvt. Ltd., Bhilai, Madhya Pradesh.
• Runner-up: Utkarsh Ahuja, Contriver Autonomous Systems Private Limited, Delhi

Idea Stage

• Winner: Vijay Mamtani, Prayogik, Bhopal
• Runner-up: Ryan Nadar, PLASMA BLADE PROPELLER, Mumbai
• Special Jury Mention: Sarthak Sudhir

The grand jury panel for the finale featured senior officials from the Armed Forces, Distinguished Academicians, and seasoned industry leaders. Winners were awarded a total cash prize of Rs 6.50 lakh, along with exclusive incubation and seed funding opportunities through MAGIC. DICE-2024 was launched in October 2024 to identify and support cutting-edge solutions for critical defence challenges while enabling start-ups to transform their research into commercially viable technologies.

Speaking on the occasion, Director General (Electronic and Communication Systems), DRDO Dr BK Das emphasised the crucial role of initiatives like DICE-2024 in strengthening India’s defence innovation ecosystem. He said DRDO remains committed to supporting innovative start-ups that align with the Government’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence. Challenges like DICE-2024 provide a crucial platform for breakthrough technologies, he added.

The event was organised by the Marathwada Accelerator for Growth and Incubation Council (MAGIC), and powered by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the 3D Engineering LLP, with support from Start-up India, the Office of the Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, iDEX, and the Maharashtra State Innovation Society.

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SR/Savvy

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