Karnataka’s Legacy Institutions Power a New Tech Era
Karnataka has long been the backbone of India’s space efforts. The state houses major players like ISRO, DRDO labs, HAL, BEL, BHEL, and NAL, along with a rich network of academic and research institutions. This deep-rooted ecosystem has not only nurtured talent and innovation over decades but also laid the groundwork for the next chapter in India’s space journey.
From Legacy to Leadership: A New Public-Private Push
Building on this legacy, Karnataka is now taking strategic steps to boost its role in the emerging NewSpace economy. The state government recently signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) to accelerate public-private collaboration in space technologies.
The MoUs lay out plans for two major projects:
- A Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Space Technologies in Bengaluru
- A public-private manufacturing park to support satellite and launch vehicle production
These initiatives were formalised by Ekroop Caur, Secretary to the Government of Karnataka, and Lochan Sehra, Joint Secretary at IN-SPACe, in the presence of senior officials including Additional Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh and IN-SPACe Chairperson Pawan Goenka.
Research, Production, and the Space Value Chain
The upcoming CoE aims to catalyse research and development in next-gen space technologies. Simultaneously, the proposed manufacturing park will offer infrastructure for end-to-end production and testing — from small satellite assembly to large-scale launch vehicles. Together, these facilities will serve both upstream and downstream needs across the space value chain.
These projects are aligned with the Indian Space Policy 2023, which encourages greater private participation in the sector.
A Policy Vision to Match the Ambition
Karnataka’s bold Technology Policy 2024–29 aims to:
- Train 5,000 skilled professionals
- Attract $3 billion in investments
- Support 500 startups and MSMEs
- Launch over 50 satellites
“Backed by our dedicated Space Tech Policy, we’re creating the foundation for globally competitive infrastructure that will lead the future of space exploration and commercialisation,” Karnataka IT BT minister Priyank M Kharge said in a post on X.
The goal is not just to support existing institutions like ISRO but to enable private companies and startups to play a bigger role in India’s future in this sector.
Room to Grow: The Need for High-Capacity Satellite Capability
Despite its strong ecosystem, Bengaluru still has some catching up to do. Speaking at the Invest Karnataka 2025 summit, former ISRO Chairman S. Somanath praised the city’s innovation but noted the absence of large-scale communication satellites built entirely by Indian companies.
“There are small satellite-building companies,” he said, “but I hope to see a four-tonne or six-tonne class communication satellite built by an Indian company and launched from Bengaluru.”
This gap represents both a challenge and an opportunity for the state’s growing sector — especially with infrastructure, talent, and policy support now coming together.
A Global Destination in the Making
“These MoUs mark a significant step towards transforming Karnataka into a global destination for space technologies,” said Ekroop Caur, highlighting the state’s commitment to innovation and public-private synergy.
With its legacy institutions providing stability, and new partnerships paving the way for entrepreneurship and R&D, Karnataka is poised to lead India’s ambitions — not just as a supporter of national missions, but as a driver of global space innovation.
