Maharashtra Announces Spacefest to Boost Space and Tech Sectors

Maharashtra aims to position itself as a global hub for space-related industries through an upcoming event named 'Spacefest', Industries Minister Uday Samant announced at a press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday. The initiative, described as the first India-based event dedicated to space, science, innovation, and space-inspired pop culture, is being organised by the state government in collaboration with entertainment and esports company Nodwin Gaming.

The announcement was attended by Principal Secretary of the Industries Department P. Anbalagan, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) CEO Dipendra Singh Kushwah, Primus Partners India co-founder and managing director Aarti Harbhajanka, and Nodwin Gaming co-founder and managing director Akshat Rathee.

Samant stated that Spacefest is designed to go beyond entertainment by introducing students, youth, and aspiring entrepreneurs to commercial opportunities in the space sector. He said the initiative is expected to open new avenues for employment, entrepreneurship, and manufacturing in areas such as satellite parts, aircraft components, and defence technologies.

Highlighting Maharashtra's historical participation in India's space missions, Samant noted that several small and medium enterprises in the state contributed vital components to the Chandrayaan programme. He specifically highlighted that multiple manufacturing units in Pune supplied parts used in the mission.

To encourage further investment, Samant said the state government will provide required infrastructure and industrial land. He noted that defence hubs and clusters are already being developed in locations such as Shirdi and Ratnagiri, with the MIDC set to support space and defence companies requiring land and facilities.

Samant added that the state government is focused on attracting domestic and foreign investment into the space sector, assuring that commitments linked to Spacefest will be executed within defined timelines while extending full support to participating stakeholders.