Indian flag. Photo: Pixabay

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is starting a new Space Accelerator, a mentorship opportunity designed to foster India-based startups focused on space technology.

AWS announced the program on Wednesday and said the 14-week program will catalyze innovation in India’s space economy, which is poised to reach $44 billion by 2033. This program follows the agreement AWS signed with the India Space Research Organizations (IRSO) and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) in September 2023. 

Selected startups will receive professional guidance from ISRO, IN-SPACe, and AWS. They also will have business and technology support from T-Hub and Minfy, an AWS Premier Partner. 

The program is open to both early-stage and mature space industry startups based in India, who need a technology platform to accelerate their growth and investment opportunities. Applications are now open, with an anticipated program kickoff in April 2024. 

 During the 14-week program, the selected startups will learn about space domain technologies and applications, including how to leverage space data, build scalable solutions using cloud computing, data analytics, and machine learning and apply generative artificial intelligence (AI). AWS plans to allow the startups to rapidly experiment at a low-cost, to enhance solutions before launching and scaling them.