Karnataka Set to Become Hub for Space Tech Under New Public-Private Partnerships
India is taking bold steps to foster innovation in its space sector, with new partnerships and support systems aimed at boosting private sector participation. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has signed key agreements with the Government of Karnataka to drive this vision forward.
New Agreements to Develop Space Infrastructure in Karnataka
IN-SPACe has signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Karnataka government. The first agreement supports the operations of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Space Technology. The second MoU focuses on establishing a Space Manufacturing Hub in the state.
Although the exact location of this new cluster is yet to be finalised, the responsibility for site selection lies with the Karnataka government. Additionally, a proposal dated 30th June 2025 has been received from the state for creating a common technical facility within the manufacturing cluster.
These initiatives are expected to strengthen India’s space manufacturing ecosystem and enhance cooperation between government and private players.
Support for Start-Ups and Innovation in Bengaluru
Bengaluru continues to lead in space-tech innovation. More than 50 space start-ups from the city have received support from IN-SPACe so far. Out of these, five start-ups have been selected for seed funding and a pre-incubation programme under the agency’s Seed Fund Scheme.
This early-stage support is vital to helping young companies bring their space-based technologies to market.
Promoting Commercial Use of Space Applications
IN-SPACe has also introduced several programmes to accelerate the commercial use of space technologies. These include:
Seed funding for solutions in agriculture, disaster management, urban planning, marine studies, and mission virtualisation.
A Technology Adoption Fund to support the development and commercial rollout of new products.
Space Applications Adoption Workshops that connect private entities with end-users, facilitating real-world deployment of space solutions.
These efforts are part of a larger goal to expand the role of Non-Government Entities (NGEs) in the Indian space ecosystem, encouraging private innovation alongside government efforts.