BENGALURU: The state government of Karnataka has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) and the SatCom Industry Association-India (SIA-India) to establish India’s first state-level Centre of Excellence in Space Technology.
This facility will be based in Bengaluru and serve as a collaborative platform bringing together industry, academia, startups, and government to accelerate the space technology ecosystem. It will focus on capacity building, research & development, and startup incubation under a five-year roadmap (2025–2030).
According to the IT & BT Minister of Karnataka, the state has long been a hub for aerospace and defence innovation, with institutions such as ISRO, IISc, and DRDO, along with a vibrant startup ecosystem. Karnataka aims to capture 50% of India’s projected ₹1.8 lakh crore space market by 2033 and also contribute significantly toward the national target of securing 10% of the global space economy.
The Centre will support space-tech startups through prototype funding and mentorship, and also launch training programmes for both professionals and students. It will promote R&D in satellite components, AI-based data analytics, space applications, and enable partnerships with domestic and international organisations for technology transfer and joint ventures.
A key initiative of the Centre is the introduction of India’s first “State Space Innovation Index” to assess policy readiness and the investment climate. The CoE is described by its proponents as a “strategic nucleus” for strengthening Karnataka’s leadership in the global space economy.