Event Overview

Chanakya University organized the inaugural Chanakya Convergence Forum (CCF) on 10 September 2026 at the Accel LaunchPad in Koramangala, Bengaluru. The forum, part of an academia‑industry engagement series, was themed “India’s Space Economy & The Next Decade” and aimed to foster knowledge sharing and networking among stakeholders in India’s space‑technology ecosystem.

Keynote Address

The opening keynote was delivered by Dr. S. Somanath, Chancellor of Chanakya University and former Chairman of ISRO. He emphasized the necessity of sustained investment in space research and allied sectors for national development and called on industry partners to collaborate with the university on research‑and‑development projects to provide hands‑on training for future innovators.

Panel Discussion

A subsequent panel titled “Who Will Build India’s Space‑Tech Future?” featured:

  • Sri Prashanth Prakash, Partner at Accel India, who noted that India’s private space‑tech sector is in its early stages but holds significant promise.
  • Sri Suyash Singh, Co‑founder of GalaxEye Space, who highlighted the need for greater innovation and supportive policy frameworks.
  • Prof. Duvvuri Subrahmanyam of IISc, who expressed confidence in tighter academia‑industry alignment for space research.

The discussion centered on pathways for scaling up India’s space‑technology capabilities over the coming decade.

Felicitation of Contributors

The forum honoured four individuals for their contributions to the Indian space sector: Prof. P. A. Ramakrishna (IIT Madras), Dr. V. R. Lalithambika (ISRO), Sri Suyash Singh (GalaxEye Space), and Prof. Duvvuri Subrahmanyam (IISc).

Remarks by Mohandas Pai

Sri Mohandas Pai, Chairman of Aarin Capital, addressed the gathering, urging further investment in infrastructure and research‑creation‑development (RCD) for India’s economy. He encouraged young attendees to dream big, build startups, create jobs, and candidly identified gaps in policy, reform, and governance, concluding on an optimistic note about India’s trajectory toward developed‑nation status.

Launch of Institutional Initiatives

  • Centre for Technology Development and Consultancy (CTDC): Inaugurated by Prof. S. Sadagopan, Founding Director of IIIT‑B. CTDC will engage directly with industry and startups to co‑develop, test, and deploy technology solutions, covering technology co‑development, IP and research commercialisation, industry consultancy, executive education, and incubation support.
  • Chanakya SpaceTech Fellowship (2026‑27): An industry‑academia programme placing young researchers on industry‑sponsored problems across satellite communications, earth observation, space robotics, radar signal processing, hyperspectral imaging, and space‑debris tracking. Prof. H. S. Subramanya, Pro‑Vice Chancellor, invited companies to join the fellowship and explore collaborations in other high‑tech sectors such as mobility, pharma, devices, and artificial intelligence.

Participation and Networking

The event attracted space‑tech companies including Nibe Industries, Collins Aerospace, GalaxEye Space, and EtherealIX, as well as venture‑capital firms such as 3One4 Capital, Momentum Capital, Pratithi, and the Kris Gopalakrishnan Family Office. Additional guests included entrepreneur Sri Madan Padaki, Sri Umakant Soni of Bharat1.AI, Smt. Malini Goyal of UnboxingBlr, and Prof. Aloke Kumar of IISc, providing a platform for founders, investors, and researchers to connect.

Closing Remarks

Pro‑Chancellor Sri M. P. Kumar delivered the closing address, describing the CCF as a strategic step toward integrating industry with academia and reaffirming Chanakya University’s commitment to fostering a culture of industry‑aligned research and curriculum development.

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