In a major push to strengthen the country’s private space ecosystem, the Department of Space has approved the establishment of Common Technical Facilities in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu to support the testing, validation, and integration of technologies.
The facilities will be set up within dedicated Space Manufacturing Clusters (SMCs) identified by the respective state governments and will provide advanced infrastructure to support startups, MSMEs, and large enterprises operating in the space sector.
According to IN-SPACe, the facilities will be equipped with high-end testing and manufacturing infrastructure, enabling companies to access capital-intensive systems without investing in their own facilities. The agency will oversee the procurement, installation, commissioning, and initial operation of the facilities before transferring ownership to the state governments.
The Gujarat government has earmarked land near Ahmedabad for a SMCs focused on spacecraft, payload systems, and space-based applications. The facility at Khoraj will support the development and testing of its components and payload technologies through advanced shared infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu plans to establish a Vehicles Cluster in Thoothukudi, focusing on the manufacturing, testing, and integration of launch vehicle systems. Located near the upcoming small launch vehicle complex at Kulasekharapatnam, the cluster is expected to support the growing demand for launch vehicle manufacturing in India.
The Thoothukudi facility will include capabilities for structural testing, propulsion validation, thermal vacuum testing, vibration and shock testing, pressure and flow testing, as well as full-system integration. The Tamil Nadu government has confirmed that the Department has sanctioned ₹100 crore for the Vehicle Common Testing Facility Centre.
IN-SPACe Chairman Dr. Pawan Kumar Goenka said the initiative represents a critical step toward building a robust, industry-led space ecosystem and has already attracted strong interest and investment commitments from private sector participants.
The agency added that nearly 10 states have expressed interest in developing similar SMCs, highlighting the growing momentum behind India’s expanding space technology sector.
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