NEW DELHI: In a first, over two dozen defence companies have come together to form a new industry association that focuses on indigenous design and development, taking a cue from the new procurement policy of the government that promotes domestic R&D with special incentives.Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar , who is currently finalizing the new procurement policy that could be released in March, is set to speak on self-reliance in defence through design and development at the first event of the new association on Thursday.The association does not have the big names in defence manufacturing but is a grouping of smaller companies that have been in the sector for several years and have a functioning research department. Companies include Centum electronics, Kineco Private Ltd , Avantel Ltd and Zen Technologies Pvt Ltd.While industry associations like FICCI and CII have strong defence departments that focus on the sector, DIIA would be the first to focus exclusively on indigenous R&D. “The focus was always on how to manufacture components or equipment in India. But the IP has always been owned by someone else. DIIA’s will engage the Government to ensure a policy that encourages design and development of defence equipment with IP ownership in our own hands,” Ashok Atluri , Chairman, DIIA told ET.