Karnataka has announced the establishment of India’s first Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Space Technology in Bengaluru, marking a major step toward advancing the nation’s space ambitions. The initiative, launched in partnership with the Space Industry Association India (SIA-India), aims to build a collaborative platform that unites industry, academia, startups, and government to accelerate innovation and research in the space sector. The CoE will operate under a five-year roadmap from 2025 to 2030, setting the foundation for India’s next phase of space growth.
The Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) formalized the partnership by signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with SIA-India. The Centre will serve as a strategic hub to support the state’s growing ecosystem of space-tech startups, drive R&D, and enhance collaboration between public and private stakeholders.
Priyank M Kharge, Karnataka’s Minister for Electronics, IT, and Biotechnology, emphasized the state’s pivotal role in India’s innovation journey. “Karnataka, home to ISRO, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India, and several leading PSUs, has long been the epicentre of India’s innovation landscape,” he said. Highlighting the state’s vibrant technology ecosystem, Kharge added that Karnataka’s strong foundation of startups, research institutions, and skilled professionals uniquely positions it to lead India’s New Space ambitions.
Subba Rao Pavuluri, President of SIA-India, described the CoE as “a strategic nucleus that will consolidate Karnataka’s leadership in the global space economy.” He noted that the initiative will “harness the collective strengths of industry, academia, and government to propel India’s space journey into a new phase of innovation, collaboration, and global competitiveness.”
The CoE will play a transformative role by incubating space-tech startups, funding prototypes, and fostering research in satellite systems, AI-powered analytics, and data technologies. It will also focus on upskilling professionals, certifying students, and strengthening academia-industry collaboration.
Anil Prakash, Director General of SIA-India, added that the initiative would “connect innovators with ISRO and IN-SPACe resources, support R&D in satellite manufacturing and launch systems, and introduce India’s first State Space Innovation Index,” positioning Karnataka as the launchpad for the country’s next generation of space enterprises.
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