India to Establish Space Laboratories in Universities to Build Future Technologies

 India to Establish Space Laboratories in Universities to Build Future Technologies

A new national program called Antariksh Prayogshala has been unveiled by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) to establish cutting-edge space technology laboratories in a number of Indian academic institutions.

By giving students practical training, promoting applied research, and strengthening ties between academics and the space sector, the initiative seeks to improve India's space ecosystem. A Request for Proposal (RfP) has been released by IN-SPACe, seeking qualified universities to take part in the project.

Antariksh Prayogshala is intended to be a first-of-its-kind endeavor to close the knowledge gap between theoretical instruction and practical industry demands in the space sector. Students, academics, and business partners will be able to collaborate on space-related innovations and technologies thanks to these labs.

To provide fair regional representation, up to seven academic institutions—one from each major geographic zone—will be chosen under the plan. With a maximum financing cap of ₹5 crore per institution, IN-SPACe will contribute up to 75% of the project's expenses. Phased funding releases will be contingent upon the accomplishment of predetermined project milestones.

There will be two phases to the selecting process. First, institutions will be screened according to the RfP's eligibility requirements. An Empowered Committee will next assess and rank the shortlisted candidates, and zone-wise selections will be made.

Dr. Vinod Kumar, Director of IN-SPACe's Promotion Directorate, explained the initiative's goal, stating that it is intended to transform academic learning into deployable competence. The labs are anticipated to promote early-stage innovation, skill development, and industry-aligned research by establishing common areas for education, research, and industry involvement.

Non-governmental organizations (NGEs) in the area would also have access to each Antariksh Prayogshala, enabling more involvement and improved infrastructure utilization. The goal of this open-access strategy is to spur innovation and aid in the expansion of India's private space industry.