NSTP has opened applications for its DEFTECH Incubation Program, developed in collaboration with The AKD Group UK, targeting startups building solutions in defence and dual-use technology. The programme is aimed specifically at ventures developing technology across artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, IoT, aeronautics, drones, and related fields, with applications now open for founders looking to both scale their ventures and raise funding.
The DEFTECH programme builds on National Science and Technology Park’s existing DefTech initiative, which has continued to focus on technology domains originally developed for military use, several of which have since produced spin-offs benefiting non-military sectors as well. NSTP’s DefTech work has spanned areas including aerospace, drones, radars, cyber warfare, military wearables, and specialised imaging and surveillance equipment, with NUST having previously developed technologies including ground surveillance radar and weapon drop mechanisms for anti-terrorist unmanned aerial vehicles.
The collaboration with The AKD Group brings an established international business conglomerate into direct partnership with NSTP’s incubation infrastructure. The AKD Group, established in 1983, operates a diversified portfolio of companies with a presence across the UK, Pakistan, and UAE, spanning sectors including aviation, mining, and construction through various subsidiaries. This partnership gives the DEFTECH Incubation Program access to international business networks and expertise beyond what NSTP’s domestic infrastructure alone would provide.
Director NSTP Engineer Amer Sheikh shared details of what the DEFTECH Incubation Program brings for innovators as part of the programme’s Independence Day announcement, positioning the initiative as a new opportunity specifically for founders working in defence technology, a segment that continues to require more specialised technical infrastructure and funding pathways compared to conventional software or consumer technology startups.
The programme’s focus on dual-use technology, meaning innovations with both military and civilian applications, reflects a broader global trend within defence technology investment, where startups developing dual-use solutions in areas such as drones, AI, and IoT have increasingly attracted interest from both government and private investors. Those interested in applying to the DEFTECH Incubation Program can do so through the link shared as part of the announcement at https://lnkd.in/dzrwm_mf, with the programme adding to NSTP’s continued positioning as a hub for aerospace, defence, and deep tech startups within Pakistan’s broader innovation ecosystem.
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