ISRO inks MoU with Social Alpha to establish SpaceTech Innovation Network

Source: The post is based on the article “ISRO inks MoU with Social Alpha to establish SpaceTech Innovation Network” published in The Hindu on 8th December 2022

What is the News?

Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) and Social Alpha have signed an MoU to launch SpaceTech Innovation Network(SpIN).

Note: Social Alpha is a multistage innovation curation and venture development platform for science and technology start-ups.

What is SpaceTech Innovation Network(SpIN)?

SpIN is India’s first dedicated platform for innovation, curation and venture development for the burgeoning space entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Focus areas: SpIN will primarily focus on facilitating space tech entrepreneurs in three distinct innovation categories: 1) Geospatial Technologies and Downstream Applications, 2) Enabling Technologies for Space & Mobility and 3) Aerospace Materials, Sensors and Avionics.

Significance: This is a one-of-a-kind public-private collaboration for start-ups and SMEs in the space industry.

What is the Innovation Challenge launched by SpIN?

SpIN has launched its first innovation challenge for developing solutions in areas of maritime and land transportation, urbanization, mapping, and surveying.

The selected start-ups and innovators will be able to access both Social Alpha’s and ISRO’s infrastructure and resources as per the prevailing guidelines.

They will also be provided active hand-holding in critical areas, including access to product design, testing and validation infrastructure and intellectual property management.