Vikram-1 success showcases India's innovation strength: TDB-DST
New Delhi, July 19
The Technology Development Board under the Department of Science and Technology on Sunday congratulated Skyroot Aerospace on the successful Vikram-1 mission, describing it as a watershed moment for India's private space sector that reinforces the country's emergence as a global hub for indigenous space technologies and deep-tech innovation.
In a statement, the Board said the successful mission marks a watershed moment for the country's private space sector and demonstrates the transformative potential of home-grown deep-tech innovation.
It added that the achievement also reaffirms TDB's long-standing commitment to identifying, recognising and promoting indigenous technologies with strong commercialisation potential.
The Board recalled that it had recognised Skyroot Aerospace at an early stage of its journey by conferring the National Technology Start-up Award 2022 during the National Technology Day celebrations.
The award was presented by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in recognition of the company's pioneering work in developing indigenous cryogenic, liquid and solid propulsion technologies for the small satellite launch market.
According to the statement, the award acknowledged both the technological excellence and commercial potential of Skyroot Aerospace, with the successful Vikram-1 mission now validating the vision behind the National Technology Awards, which aim to encourage breakthrough Indian technologies with the potential to create significant national and global impact.
Congratulating the Skyroot team, Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, Technology Development Board, said the company's journey from an emerging start-up recognised through the National Technology Start-up Award to achieving a historic milestone in India's private space programme reflects the strength of the country's innovation ecosystem.
He further said that, building on its innovation-led growth, Skyroot Aerospace has also submitted a proposal to the Technology Development Board under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, which is currently under consideration.
The Board said it has consistently supported the commercialisation of indigenous technologies by promoting innovation-led enterprises across strategic sectors, including aerospace, defence, healthcare, clean energy, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing and digital technologies.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great achievement, but I hope the government continues to support more such startups with funding and infrastructure. We need to ensure the private sector can compete globally without too much red tape. Innovation needs oxygen to grow. 🌱
This is the 'Make in India' success story we need to celebrate. From chai to space technology, our startups are proving that when given the right ecosystem, Indian talent can match anyone. The RDI fund proposal by Skyroot also shows they are thinking long-term.
As someone from the US, I'm genuinely impressed by India's space sector growth. Skyroot's tech in cryogenic propulsion so early on is remarkable. This competition is healthy for global space innovation. India is showing it's not just about cost, but also cutting-edge engineering.
The TDB award from 2022 feels so well-deserved now. When you think about it, India went from launching satellites on bullock carts to having a thriving private space sector in just a few decades. Sahi hai! But we need more such success stories from Tier-2 cities too.
Genuinely so happy about this. 🇮🇳 My son is studying aerospace engineering and this gives him so much hope. He says Skyroot is an inspiration for young Indians. Private sector in space is finally taking off - literally! 🚀
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