a day ago
Karnataka, SIA to set up Rs 10 crore space tech centre of excellence
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BENGALURU: Karnataka has approved the establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in space technology, developed in collaboration with Satcom Industry Association-India (SIA-India), the country's space industry association.
The initiative, backed by Rs 10 crore in initial funding over five years, will operate through a consortium including Ananth Technologies Ltd, International Institute of Space Studies and Research (IISSR), KickSky, and BES Space.
Announcing this, SIA-India India requires more than 2 lakh skilled space professionals by 2035 to compete with global spacefaring nations.
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'State-led initiatives like this are crucial for unlocking India's regional innovation capacity and achieving our national space ambitions.
We're proud to partner with the Karnataka govt and our consortium members to drive next-generation space R&D, entrepreneurship, and skilling,' SIA-India director-general Anil Prakash said.
The CoE, SIA-India said, aligns with Karnataka's Draft Space Technology Policy 2024, which aims to capture 50% of India's space economy by 2033 — approximately $22 billion of the projected $44 billion national space sector.
Located in Bengaluru, home to Isro headquarters, the centre will focus on satellite manufacturing and communications, Earth observation analytics, navigation systems, space situational awareness, in-orbit servicing, and AI-powered quantum communications.
Over its five-year roadmap, the CoE plans incubation of 20+ 'NewSpace' startups, generation of 50+ research outputs, training of more than 2,000 professionals (200 in the first year alone), facilitation of 10+ global joint ventures and technology transfers, and a revenue generation of $100 million from startup-led innovation.
'This CoE is not just a facility—it is a strategic nucleus that consolidates Karnataka's leadership in the global space economy,' SIA-India president and Ananth Technologies CMD Subba Rao Pavuluri said.
The initiative supports existing programmes like IN-SPACe's Rs 500 crore Tech Adoption Fund and Rs 1,000 crore VC Fund, SIA-India said, adding that it was also engaging with other states including
Tamil Nadu
, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Kerala to develop similar initiatives.
'The implementation will be overseen by a Joint Governing Committee following a five-year phased approach, beginning with infrastructure setup and stakeholder onboarding. The centre aims to support India's lunar, human spaceflight and future solar missions, while contributing to applications in agriculture, disaster response, and urban planning,' SIA-India said.
