New Delhi, Jun 28 (KNN) Amazon Web Services (AWS) India has unveiled its inaugural space accelerator programme, marking a significant step in nurturing India's burgeoning space technology sector.

The 14-week initiative, dubbed AWS Space Accelerator: India, aims to support 24 promising startups across various space-related domains.

This programme emerges fr0m a collaborative effort between AWS, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).

The partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding in 2023, seeks to catalyse growth and innovation within India's space industry.

Clint Crosier, director of aerospace and satellite business at AWS, highlighted the unique nature of this accelerator, noting it as the first country-specific iteration of AWS's space programme.

Crosier expressed optimism about the Indian space sector's potential, citing the surge in new startups, robust government backing, and a skilled workforce in space technologies.

The selected startups represent a diverse cross-section of the space industry, encompassing areas such as spacecraft propulsion, orbital and launch vehicles, satellite imagery, geospatial applications, and space tourism.

Notable participants include a sustainable satellite startup fr0m Thoothukudi, an advanced geospatial analysis firm fr0m Port Blair, and a precision farming venture leveraging satellite technology fr0m Ahmedabad.

In addition to mentorship and specialized training, the accelerator offers up to USD 100,000 in cumulative AWS credits to the chosen startups, enabling them to develop and scale their solutions.

The programme receives support fr0m T-Hub, an innovation ecosystem enabler, and Minfy, an AWS Premier Partner.

AWS emphasised that the selection process evaluated factors including solution uniqueness, product-market fit, innovation, sustainability, creative use of AWS technology, and the team's ability to execute their vision.

This initiative underscores the growing importance of India's space sector and the increasing role of private enterprises in driving innovation and growth in this field.

As these startups progress through the accelerator, they are poised to contribute significantly to India's space capabilities and potentially reshape the global space technology landscape.

(KNN Bureau)