The Tamil Nadu government and IN-SPACe on Wednesday signed an agreement to establish a space vehicle common technical facility at the upcoming space manufacturing industrial park in Allikulam, Thoothukudi district.

The agreement was signed by D Karthikeyan, Chairman and Managing Director of TIDCO, on behalf of the Tamil Nadu government, and Anupam Anand, Joint Secretary, IN-SPACe, in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, and state Industries Minister S Keerthana, a press release said.

The tie-up marks a significant milestone in the state's efforts to create a world-class ecosystem for space manufacturing, it added.

Under the agreement, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre will provide equipment worth up to Rs 100 crore for the facility, while the Tamil Nadu government will allocate the required land and develop the buildings, utilities, and supporting infrastructure.

The facility will provide shared access to advanced testing infrastructure for vibration, shock, thermal-vacuum, EMI/EMC, pressure and flow assessments, along with launch vehicle assembly, component integration, and hydroclave operations.

Access to such capital-intensive infrastructure will significantly reduce the cost and time required for industries to develop, test and qualify space systems and components.

Strategically located near the upcoming spaceport at Kulasekarapattinam, the facility is envisioned as a hub for the manufacture of launch vehicle components, satellite systems, propulsion systems, avionics, composite structures and other critical space hardware.

It will serve as the technological backbone of this ecosystem, enabling industries from across the country to access world-class capabilities, the release said.

The initiative is expected to attract substantial private investment, generate high-skilled employment, strengthen the local supplier ecosystem and accelerate innovation in the space sector.

By lowering entry barriers for the industry, it will foster indigenous capability development and enhance the country's competitiveness in the global space economy.

The collaboration underscores the Tamil Nadu government's focus on building globally competitive industrial ecosystems and fostering emerging sectors through strategic partnerships and world-class infrastructure.

The facility is expected to strengthen Tamil Nadu's position as a leading hub for space manufacturing and technology development, while supporting India's ambition to emerge as a global centre for space manufacturing.