IN-SPACe signs two MoUs with Karnataka for manufacturing park, CoE

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre ( IN-SPACe) and Karnataka’s IT-BT department signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to promote and accelerate commercial space infrastructure in the state.

One MoU is for establishing a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Space Technologies in Bengaluru, and the other for setting up of a public-private space manufacturing park for launch-vehicle production.

Pawan Goenka, chairman, IN-SPACe, said, “Karnataka has emerged as a hub for new-age space start-ups and enterprises. The MoUs will bolster this ecosystem and support the state and country’s efforts in succeeding in the new space era.”

He added that IN-SPACe looks forward to working shoulder-to-shoulder with the state to see more satellites, engines and deep-space technologies developed and manufactured within Karnataka.

The state already has a mature ecosystem across the space sector value chain comprising Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) headquarters, space-related public sector undertakings such as DRDO labs and facilities, HAL, BEL, BHEL, NAL, and academic and research institutions.

“The MoUs with IN-SPACe mark a new chapter in Karnataka’s space journey, creating a seamless talent and value chain with the regulatory support required to compete globally,” said Karnataka’s Chief Secretary, Shalini Rajneesh.

The space regulator in a release said that as the global space sector moves from agency-driven programmes to agile public-private partnerships (PPPs), the MoUs aim to promote breakthrough new space technologies.

“IN-SPACe, being the regulator of space in India, is driving core R&D and innovation to propel India’s growth. This is another step in line with IN-SPACe’s long-term vision to make India a space-forward economy, with the active participation of the states,” the nodal agency said in a statement.