IN-SPACe Launches ₹6 Cr AI INSPIRED Fund for Private Space Innovation in India

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has announced new AI INSPIRED (Innovating Space Performance with Intelligent Resilient Engines Development) Opportunities in the space sector. The fund was unveiled during the India AI Impact Summit to back AI-led innovation in India’s private space sector.

IN-SPACe will allocate up to ₹6 crore under the INSPIRED initiative, with grants of up to ₹1 crore to each selected entity. The funding will be provided as a grant-in-aid under the IN-SPACe Seed Fund Scheme, and applications will close on March 20.

Vinod Kumar, Director, Promotion Directorate at IN-SPACe, announced the programme at a session on how AI is powering the next generation of space exploration. “Both space and AI are burgeoning sectors, and their convergence holds strong potential to transform how we explore and operate in complex and remote environments through autonomous and intelligent decision making,” he said.

He added that IN-SPACe will support selected entities with proposal development, access to resources, mentorship, skills, and solution-building support. The organisation is also keen to see how non-government entities use this opportunity to develop solutions that serve national priorities over the long term.

The call invites proposals from space startups and micro and small enterprises developing AI-based solutions for the space sector. Applicants can apply under three tracks, including edge intelligence in orbit, space for Earth intelligence, and smart access to space.

The programme seeks to apply AI to onboard and in-orbit systems. It also covers AI-enabled use of space-derived data for Earth-based applications. The initiative includes technological approaches to improve efficiency, reliability, and access in space operations.pro

IN-SPACe said the initiative aims to promote practical innovation that connects AI capabilities with space technologies and downstream use cases. 

The organisation also recently announced three winners—Astrome Technologies, Azista Industries, and Dhruva Space—for its satellite bus hosting scheme. 

IN-SPACe has said it will fund and support companies in developing and demonstrating indigenous small satellite bus platforms. These winners will receive a grant of ₹5 crore to develop and demonstrate this Satellite Bus as a Service (SBaaS).