Bengaluru: American Tech giant Microsoft is all set to fuel space tech start-ups in India and has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). At the future-ready technology summit 2023, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella showcased several cloud-based and AI-powered projects and also revealed its plans to foster Indian start-ups in the space tech domain.

The MOU would fuel space tech start-ups using technology tools and platforms. With this partnership, Microsoft will help ISRO to strengthen its vision towards getting the most out of space tech start-ups in the country. Microsoft will work closely with the start-ups identified by ISRO and will onboard those companies to its Start-up Founders Hub platform to support them at every stage.

Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India, said, “Space tech start-ups in India are playing a significant role in advancing the country’s space capabilities with the power of technology. We are pleased to collaborate with ISRO to accelerate this transformation of what’s possible in space. Through our technology tools, platforms, and mentorship opportunities, we are deeply committed to empowering space tech start-ups in the country to drive cutting-edge innovation and accelerate scientific discovery.”

These start-ups will also get free access to various tech tools and resources which includes technical support to build and scale their product on Azure. On top of that, they will also get to use GitHub Enterprise, Visual Studio Enterprise and Microsoft 365 tools. Microsoft will also mentor space tech entrepreneurs in terms of cloud tech, product, design, fundraising and sales and marketing aspects. The company will also collaborate with ISRO to organise knowledge-sharing and thought leadership sessions across the country.

ISRO Chairman S Somanath said, “ISRO’s collaboration with Microsoft will greatly benefit space tech start-ups in their analysis and processing of vast amounts of satellite data for various applications, using cutting-edge methods like AI, Machine Learning and Deep Learning. The Microsoft for Start-ups Founders Hub is a useful platform for bringing together start-ups and providers of technology solutions to support the national space technology ecosystem. We are pleased to work together to assist and support entrepreneurs, to in turn benefit the Indian economy as a whole.”