The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has unveiled plans to establish incubators to encourage space start-ups to develop new solutions for rockets, communication satellites and other space-related platforms.

The development of the start-ups is expected to contribute to the creation of a local commercial space ecosystem across the nation.

ISRO aims to help the incubating start-ups build applications, as well as provide services and products that can be used worldwide.

“We are looking at multiple models for the incubators.”

The agency intends to open the incubators near its existing six centres. The Indian state of Kerala, which currently has ISRO’s rocket research facility, has expressed its interest to host an incubator.

ISRO might also own a share in the start-ups after finalising an operational model for the incubators.

ISRO chairman K Sivan was quoted by The Economic Times as saying: “We are looking at multiple models for the incubators.”

Through its commercial unit Antrix, ISRO has previously worked with a number of start-ups, including Bellatrix Aerospace, which is involved in the development of electric satellite propulsion systems.

The agency has also selected other start-ups such as Aniara Communications and Exseed Space to be part of a private consortium to assemble, integrate and test communication and remote sensing satellites.

Furthermore, Sivan reportedly said that ISRO is expected to launch two space missions every month, with a total of 31 launches scheduled to be conducted over the next 16 months.

As part of its upcoming mission, the agency is due to launch two commercial satellites from the UK in September aboard a PSLV C-42 rocket, reported Indo-Asian News Service.