AICTE, ISpA sign MoU to promote domestic first-gen space engineers

India’s engineering education regulator, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), has teamed up with the Indian Space Association (ISpA) to tackle the shortage of skilled engineers in the country’s burgeoning space sector.

The agreement, aimed at generating and nurturing talent in space engineering, comes as Indian startups in the sector face a critical lack of trained professionals.

Speaking at a space symposium in Delhi, AICTE Chairman T.G. Sitharam said the collaboration will "spread awareness and understanding of space technology and its applications among students and faculty alike through webinars, events, and exhibitions."

Focus on new technology exposure

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between AICTE and ISpA also aims to address industry-wide technological challenges.

“The initiative will increase exposure to new technology developments, both national and international, through newsletters, events, and webinars,” Sitharam stated.

He added, “We will jointly conduct orientation programmes to inform students about opportunities in the space industry. This includes industry interactions, familiarisation visits, internships, and exposure to potential job opportunities.”

Growth in India's space sector

India's space startups attracted over Rs 1,000 crore in private investment between April and December last year. The country’s space economy, currently valued at USD 8 billion, is expected to reach USD 100 billion by 2040.

India’s foreign direct investment policy for space startups permits 100% automatic investment in space component manufacturing and 49% in rockets and space launch service providers.

                              (By arrangement with livemint.com)