February 25, 2020, New Delhi: Wizcraft makes a mark at DefExpo 2020 – Asia’s largest Defence Exhibition organized by the Dept. of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India – held in Lucknow from 5th to 9th February. The theme was ‘Digital transformation of Defence’ – with a focus on the latest technologies and systems powering Indian Defence.
Rohit Samuel, Vice President, Wizcraft, says – “Conceptualizing & managing the major proceedings involved nearly 4 months of rigorous research, creative planning and management. Over 40 Wizzes and 200 volunteers were involved in executing this on ground. Dedicated teams were aligned & they worked closely with the teams within DDP – to deliver impactful concept, content, design and experience.”
Wizcraft seamlessly managed the Inaugural Ceremony, the India Pavilion, the 5th India-Russia Military Industrial Conference, the 1st ever India Africa Defence Ministers Conclave, Bandhan (an official meet for Signing of MoUs, Product Launches & Major Announcements), and the Valedictory function. Wizcraft also handled Media & Advertising pan India, overall venue branding, and some key publications for the Ministry of Defence.
The event kicked off on a grand note, with an Inaugural Ceremony graced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Hon’ble Defence Minister, Hon’ble Chief Minister of UP & the Chief of Defence Staff, among other notable dignitaries. The Prime Minister digitally launched the curtain raiser – an interactive film delivered through a powerful performance. Sam Panchmukhi, National Creative Mentor, said “The thematic opening was an invocation to indigenous innovation and reflected the spirit of DefExpo 2020. We designed it as a glorious tribute to the spirit of innovation in India and how it has evolved over thousands of years till today. It also highlighted the new command structure of Defence today with a joint salute by three young officers from the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. Augmented Reality was integrated, and a nose salute by two virtual Tejas aircrafts was the highlight of the Opening Act.”
The dignitaries then visited the India Pavilion – called ‘India Defence Technosphere’. The journey began at the dome or ‘Cyberverse’, which resembled a futuristic Command & Control centre. Here, the Prime Minister launched a ‘digital wave’ spanning 14 panoramic LED screens. This led to an immersive film showcasing indigenous systems, net-centric warfare, and how the Indian Armed Forces are gearing up for jointness & future battles. The exhibition area was divided into 7 thematic zones, and featured 160+ cutting-edge products by major Industry players & Startups. Transformation journeys of landmark systems & Make in India success stories were also captured through innovative & interactive media.
Misha Rao, Copy Head, Brand Activation, reflects on the India Pavilion – “The task was to convert 3000 sqm of space into a memorable showcase and a meeting ground for the Industry, Ministry, Business Delegates and Public. Conceptualizing & designing this ‘Technosphere’ was both fun and challenging. From the intensively curated product showcase, to the net-centric warfare simulation – everything demanded deep-diving into the subject matter. We wanted both business and common visitors to witness India’s Defence prowess, and understand how the Defence industry is evolving through technology. To achieve this, we created installations which conveyed the stories in an interactive & comprehensible manner.”
Sanjay Jaju, Joint Secretary (Defence Industrial Production), remarked, “It was a meticulous process and a labour of love of 6 months that led to the creation of India Pavilion. The creative think tank at Wizcraft did due justice to the theme, and enabled us in creating the right impact with the ‘India Defence Technosphere’. It was a central attraction at DefExpo 2020. The facade, command centre, tech installations all created an experience of being inside a tech hub. The quality of work was great, resulting in an immersive, informative & entertaining experience for all. The outcome was a world class showcase of our indigenous products driving Digital transformation of Defence.”
Chandraker Bharti, Joint Secretary (Aerospace) shared, “DefExpo 2020 was one of the most challenging projects for the Ministry of Defence. Our primary focus was to create a world class Defence exhibition in this part of the world. Wizcraft conceptualized and curated an engaging and immersive experience for all our visitors. Everything from the Inaugural Ceremony & Seminars, to the Valedictory function were managed smoothly. We received extremely positive feedback from all stakeholders and are delighted that we could showcase India as a major global player in Defence production.”
DefExpo 2020 was attended by senior Govt. Officials, Indian & International Military Officers, 2500+ delegates from 70 countries, and over 3 lakh visitors. Indeed a grand salute to Indian Defence!
