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- IIT Tirupati partnered with the Mehta Family Foundation to host a roundtable on building India’s future space workforce
- The event included participation from ISRO, the Defence Space Agency, academia, and private space industry leaders
- A key proposal was a new Space Science and Engineering programme at IIT Tirupati to strengthen space education and align training with India’s growing space sector
India’s push to build a stronger space education ecosystem is gaining momentum as IIT Tirupati, in collaboration with the Mehta Family Foundation, hosted a high-impact two-day MFF CARE Roundtable focused on one big goal—building India’s space workforce for the future.
The event brought together key voices from ISRO, the Defence Space Agency, top academic institutions, and India’s fast-expanding private space industry. The central conversation revolved around how India can train a new generation of professionals equipped for the booming global space economy and evolving space science and engineering education needs.
A major outcome of the discussions was the vision to establish a dedicated Space Science and Engineering programme at IIT Tirupati, designed to blend academic learning with real-world space sector applications. Institute Director Dr. K N Satyanarayana highlighted that IIT Tirupati’s strong interdisciplinary foundation and strategic location make it well-suited to emerge as a hub for space technology education in India. He even pointed to the long-term ambition of developing a centre capable of training future astronauts and advanced space researchers.
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Prof. B N Suresh, Chancellor of Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, emphasized the urgent need to fill gaps in India’s current space curriculum development, calling for more practical, outcome-driven learning models that align with industry expectations and global advancements.
Adding a global perspective, Rahul Mehta, founder of the Mehta Family Foundation, shared insights from international space sector engagements, stressing that the world is witnessing unprecedented growth in commercial space activity. He noted that India must accelerate its talent pipeline to stay competitive in this rapidly expanding global space industry workforce.
With academia, government space agencies, and private players aligning their vision, the initiative signals a major step toward positioning India as a leader in space workforce development and next-generation space education.