Lt Gen Pratik Sharma Urges Deeper Military-Industry Collaboration at SIDM Seminar
Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command, used the annual seminar of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) to call for a deeper and more active partnership between the Indian Armed Forces and domestic industry, saying companies must move beyond the role of technology suppliers and become collaborators in building India’s defence capability.
The Army Commander delivered the plenary address, titled “Reflections from North Tech Symposium 2026 and the Way Forward”, before a gathering that included industry leaders, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), startups and innovators. His remarks focused on the rapid expansion of India’s defence manufacturing base and the need to translate that growth into stronger cooperation with the services.
In his address, Lt Gen Sharma urged industry stakeholders to play a larger role in supporting the country’s defence requirements. He stressed that the next stage of India’s defence industrial growth should be built on close engagement between the armed forces and the private sector, especially if the country is to strengthen indigenous capabilities and reduce dependence on external sources.
The seminar brought together a broad cross-section of the defence ecosystem, including established manufacturers, MSMEs, startups and innovators. Their presence reflected the growing interface between the military and the wider industrial and technology community involved in shaping India’s defence preparedness.
The Army Commander’s remarks connected the experience of North Tech Symposium 2026 with the way ahead for defence collaboration. By drawing attention to the industry’s growth and the need for deeper partnerships, he framed innovation not merely as a matter of supplying equipment or systems, but as a shared effort to build and sustain indigenous capability.
The emphasis on Atmanirbharta, or self-reliance, was central to the message. The address reflected the broader push to strengthen India’s ability to design, develop and support its own defence needs through sustained cooperation among the armed forces, manufacturers, MSMEs and emerging innovators.
At the SIDM annual seminar, Lt Gen Sharma’s intervention reinforced the view that closer military-industry coordination will be essential for advancing indigenous defence development. It also underlined the role of the domestic ecosystem in creating a self-reliant and credible defence base capable of meeting the requirements of the Indian Armed Forces.
