The Centre's Department of Space (DoS) has given the green light for clusters dedicated to manufacturing space-tech equipment and testing facilities in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. This two-pronged approach involves state governments allocating land parcels for space-related manufacturing, while the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) establishes associated common technical facilities (CTFs), senior officials confirmed.
Gujarat Cluster: Khoraj Near Ahmedabad
In Gujarat, the manufacturing cluster will be situated at Khoraj, near Ahmedabad, and is designed as a 'plug-and-play' facility for the industry. According to officials, the cluster will focus on spacecraft, payload systems, and space-based applications. The site is located close to key industrial clusters specializing in automotive and semiconductor sectors. The CTFs will be established within these manufacturing clusters, officials added.
IN-SPACe's Role in Technical Facilities
Pawan Kumar Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe, stated that setting up CTFs with capital-intensive systems is a critical step in creating a robust, industry-led space ecosystem in India. “The private space industries, including startups, MSMEs, and large industries, will be able to access these facilities without having to invest in and operate a similar facility on their own premises,” he said. Officials noted that IN-SPACe will play a key role in procuring, installing, and commissioning the technical infrastructure, operating the facility for a specified period, and later handing it over to the respective state governments. IN-SPACe will also assist the states in planning and developing the dedicated manufacturing clusters.
Rajeev Jyoti, Director (TD) at IN-SPACe, told TOI that this is a major step in establishing a space technology cluster in India. “The cluster will be for companies working in manufacturing various components required for space tech. These companies require large-scale testing facilities, which will be provided by IN-SPACe. Currently at the IN-SPACe facility in Ahmedabad, about 40-odd startups and companies are using the technical facilities,” said Jyoti.
Gujarat Chief Secretary's Perspective
M K Das, Gujarat Chief Secretary, emphasized that the cluster is not merely an infrastructure project. “The park equipped with curated state-of-the-art common facilities will be a strategic enabler for rapid growth of space tech manufacturing,” he said in the release.
Ahmedabad as a Space Technology Hub
Founders of space tech startups in Ahmedabad expressed that the city is poised to become a major space technology hub in India, driven by the presence of SAC-ISRO and leading research institutions such as the Institute of Plasma Research and the Physical Research Laboratory. They noted that the city is well-positioned to develop a dedicated space-tech cluster, with several local startups having made their mark through major funding and technical development.
