Synopsis
Karnataka has launched India's first state-led Centre of Excellence for Space Technology (CoE SpaceTech Foundation) in Bengaluru. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between research and market-ready solutions by fostering applied innovation, talent development, and ecosystem building. The Centre will serve as a collaborative platform for government, industry, startups, and academia to drive India's space economy.Listen to this article in summarized format
The Centre has been set up by the Government of Karnataka through the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) in collaboration with the SatCom Industry Association of India (SIA-India), said the IT/BT department in a statement.
It was inaugurated by IT/BT minister Priyank Kharge, along with senior government officials, industry leaders and members of the scientific community.
The initiative aims to bridge the gap between research and market-ready solutions by focusing on applied innovation, talent development, and ecosystem building. The state government also signalled its intent to support the development of a satellite constellation aligned with societal and end-user needs, under the theme “Space Tech for Societal Impact”, said the statement.
Kharge said the state is extending its leadership in technology into strategic deeptech sectors.
“Our focus is on building an ecosystem where innovation translates into real-world applications, economic growth and high-quality jobs. This Centre will help position the state as a key driver of India’s space economy,” he said in the statement.
Officials highlighted the need for a common technical facility to support the evolving requirements of the sector, noting that similar shared infrastructure has been funded across other industries. The department will also undertake structured consultations with stakeholders to align the Centre’s offerings with industry needs, statement added.
The CoE will function as a collaborative platform bringing together government, industry, startups and academia. Its key focus areas include advanced research in space technologies, industry-aligned training, startup incubation and cross-sector applications.
The Centre also signed multiple strategic memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to strengthen its ecosystem. These include partnerships with Manipal Academy of Higher Education for space biology research and training, US-based Helogen Corporation for space-based biomanufacturing, the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE) for promoting space biotechnology, Dassault Systèmes for technology and training support, and Idea Baaz to enhance visibility and funding opportunities for startups.
“The CoE is designed to institutionalise this process and accelerate scale-up for Indian companies,” SIA-India president Subba Rao Pavuluri said.
With the launch of the CoE, the state is looking to consolidate its position as a hub for deeptech innovation and contribute to India’s ambitions of becoming a global space economy powerhouse, added the statement.
