Karnataka, In-SPACe Ink MoUs to Advance NewSpace R&D, Manufacturing

The Karnataka government, along with the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), announced the execution of MoUs to further establish Indian's premier commercial space launch hub.

The MoUs, executed by the state government at the behest of the Department of Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Science & Technology, involves the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Space Technologies in Bengaluru, and the establishment of a public-private Space Manufacturing Park for the manufacturing of next generation satellites and launch vehicles.

According to the release, the MoUs laid down the terms of cooperation between the Karnataka government and IN-SPACe to set up the Centre of Excellence and manufacturing park.

Karnataka has a well developed ecosystem consisting of the entire value chain of the space sector, comprising government entities, private entities, MSMEs, ISRO headquarter, DRDO labs, and public-sector companies like HAL, BEL, BHEL, and NAL, and many world-leading academic and research organizations.

The MoUs aim to strengthen the State's NewSpace ecosystem as per the national agenda as outlined in the Indian Space Policy, 2023, and spawn innovation in the sector.

As the global space sector evolves from agency-led missions to nimble public-private partnerships, the signing furthers arrow Karnataka's positioning as India's launchpad for bold NewSpace innovations as driver by visionary governance, industry, and talented human capital, the release stated.

As India's space regulator, IN-SPACe is looking to advance R & D innovation to support national growth.