Global Aerospace and Defense Innovation Catalyst Starburst and Indian Space Association Announce Strategic Collaboration to Accelerate India’s Space Ecosystem

Global Aerospace & Defense innovation catalyst Starburst and the Indian Space Association (ISpA), India’s esteemed association of leading space industries providing advisory and advocacy support, are proud to announce a new strategic collaboration, dedicated to accelerating India’s burgeoning space industry and its integration into the global space ecosystem.

The expanding research and development landscape in India, marked by private sector-led initiatives and dual-use technology adoption, presents a fertile ground for entrepreneurship, particularly in the Defense and Space domain.

Starburst & ISpA share a vision of helping to ignite the emergence of a vibrant space ecosystem in India, facilitating enterprise creation & nurturing the rapid growth of innovative startups spinning out of the region.

The partnership between Starburst and Indian Space Association reflects the progress in the India-France Strategic Partnership in defense & space. Starburst’s entry into India also follows increased U.S.-India cooperation.

The partnership seeks to capitalize on research synergies to enhance sector investment. Specifically, it aims to collaborate on promoting investment and business opportunities, supporting space startups and entrepreneurship, advocating for policies, initiating joint research and development projects, and more.

“ISpA is looking forward to work with an ecosystem of accelerators to enable our space entrepreneurs to unleash their innovative potential in a focused manner so as to meet the requirements of an aspirational India. Towards this evolving a strong accelerator ecosystem dedicated to bringing market opportunities, funds, addressing cash flow challenges would be the most important target area for ISpA” mentioned ISpA’s Director General.

Lt Gen Anil Kumar Bhatt (Retd), Director General, Indian Space Association & Francois Chopard, Starburst’s CEO & Founder, formalized the collaboration with an official signing, held at Manekshaw Center, New Delhi on April 20, 2024.

With over 140 investments in aerospace, defense, aviation, and enabling technologies startups, Starburst bring its deep space knowledge and proven expertise in building long-lasting and thriving innovation ecosystems in the Aerospace and Defense industry globally.

“This marks the beginning of a long-term partnership between Starburst and ISpA. Together, we intend to build a powerful engine to drive the transformation of India’s space economy by creating startup clusters around India,” said François Chopard. “Starburst will equip local space startups with the necessary business tools to grow and scale their ventures to become future suppliers, attract external capital to de-risk investments, and accelerate development.”

Starburst and ISpA will work jointly to encourage the Indian space industry, including startups and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises as well as industry majors, to enhance research, expedite commercialization, and develop innovative solutions to meet defense capability requirements.

Through this ecosystem building, the partnership will help elevate talented entrepreneurs and innovators by introducing them to synergies and avenues of collaboration with government and corporate players, thus driving new technologies, business ideas & models.