Chennai, Aug 6:
In a move that would be a major leap in industrial growth and in the context of ISRO setting up its second spaceport catering to SSLV launches at Kulasekarapattinam in the state, the Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday announced that the southern Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli districts will be declared as a ‘Space Industrial Investment Zone’, and will also set up an advanced Space Vehicle Commaon Technical facility in collaboration with IN-SPACe.
Presenting the TVK government’s maiden budget in the State Assembly, Finance Minister N.Marie Wilson said the two southern districtswill be declared as a ‘Space Industrial Investment Zone’ anchored by the strategic significance of the spaceport at Kulasekarapattinam in the coastal Thoothukudi district which would significantly reduce the launch costs and save fuel.
“This is expected to bring a major leap in the industrial growth of the southern region”, he said, adding, to provide unparalleled infrastructure and technological support to private enterprises, startups and research organisations within this zone, the State Government, in collaboration with IN-SPACe, is establishing an advanced ‘Space Vehicle Common Technical Facility’.
It may be noted that to facilitate private sector participation, the Union government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a historic decision in June 2020 to open up the Space sector and enable the participation of Indian private sector in the entire gamut of space activities. To facilitate private sector participation, the government created the the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), as a single-window, independent, nodal agency which functions as an autonomous agency in Department of Space (DOS). It was established as a single window agency for all space sector activities of private entities and plays an important role in boosting the private space sector economy in India.
The Finance Minister also said India’s first dedicated AI and Innovation city, christened ‘Arivagam’, will be established for Artificial Intelligence and deep tech development, with facilities including an AI university, an international skill development centre, a semiconductor hardware testing lab, multi-domain innovation incubators and modern residential infrastructure. It will serve as a dedicated ecosystem bringing together AI companies, deep-tech startups, quantum technology ventures, enterprise capability centres, research institutions and Government AI initiatives, equipped with advanced compute infrastructure, specialised facilities, a skilled workforce, and a collaborative innovation environment.
A feasibility study will be undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs.5 crore for this project, Wilson said.