Kamal Ghorui
BENGALURU: Karnataka Thursday launched a state-backed Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Space Technology in Bengaluru, announcing plans to develop a constellation of satellites aimed at meeting end-user and societal needs, as the state seeks to build a stronger ecosystem around India’s expanding private space sector.The initiative, called the CoE SpaceTech Foundation, has been set up by the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) in collaboration with industry body SIA-India.The launch comes amid increasing private participation in the space sector following reforms introduced by the Centre over the past few years. Bengaluru, which houses Isro headquarters and several aerospace and defence firms, has also emerged as a hub for private space startups.Karnataka IT minister Priyank Kharge said the govt would hold consultations with industry stakeholders on the need for shared technical infrastructure and common facilities for companies working in the sector. He also indicated government support for developing a satellite constellation focused on societal applications — an intention that underscored the CoE’s stated theme of “Space Tech for Societal Impact.”As per a statement issued here, the CoE would focus on applied research, talent development, startup incubation and industry partnerships. Areas identified for future work include agriculture, climate applications, disaster management, biotechnology, connectivity and national security.“With the theme ‘Space Tech for Societal Impact’, we aim to leverage space technologies to address challenges across agriculture, climate, disaster management, connectivity, pharma, life sciences, and national security. Our vision is to position Karnataka as a global reference hub for space technology through talent, innovation, incubation, and collaboration,” Govindrajan, director, CoE SpaceTech Foundation, said.The CoE has also entered into partnerships with academic and industry organisations. These include collaborations with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education for research in space biology and microgravity studies, and with the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE) for startup and innovation programmes. It has also signed an agreement with US firm Helogen Corporation to advance space-based bio-manufacturing, with a focus on healthcare outcomes and commercialisation. French software firm Dassault Systemes has been brought in as a technology partner to provide software tools and training support for space technology applications.Industry representatives at the event said India already possesses substantial technical capability in the space sector, but requires stronger institutional support to convert research and engineering expertise into commercially scalable products. “India has already built strong capability in space technologies. The next phase is about consistently converting that capability into commercial outcomes,” said Subba Rao Pavuluri, President of SIA-India and CMD of Ananth Technologies.An open-house session held after the inauguration saw startups, companies and research institutions outlining infrastructure requirements and potential collaboration areas for the new Centre.
