DST-backed Skyroot’s unicorn journey gets fresh validation with Vikram-1 success, says govt
Skyroot Aerospace, which received the National Technology Start-up Award in 2022 for its indigenous propulsion technologies, has evolved into India's first space-tech unicorn, reinforcing the government's early bet on deep-tech
Skyroot Aerospace was among the early recipients of the National Technology Start-up Award in 2022, presented during the National Technology Day celebrations.
NEW DELHI: The Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has hailed the successful launch of Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 mission as a validation of its early recognition of the Hyderabad-based start-up’s technological capabilities, saying the achievement reflects the strength of India’s rapidly evolving innovation ecosystem.
Congratulating the company on the landmark mission, TDB said the success marks a defining moment for India’s private space sector and demonstrates the country’s growing capabilities in developing indigenous launch technologies with global commercial potential.
The board noted that Skyroot Aerospace was among the early recipients of the National Technology Start-up Award in 2022, presented during the National Technology Day celebrations. The recognition came at a time when the company was developing indigenous cryogenic, liquid and solid propulsion technologies for the small satellite launch market, years before it emerged as India’s first space-tech unicorn.
According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the successful Vikram-1 mission underscores the objective of the National Technology Awards programme, which seeks to identify and encourage Indian enterprises developing breakthrough technologies capable of delivering significant national and global impact.
Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, Technology Development Board, said Skyroot’s transformation from a promising start-up into a company achieving a historic milestone in India’s private space programme is a matter of national pride. He also revealed that Skyroot Aerospace has submitted a proposal to the TDB under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, which is currently under consideration.
The award presented in 2022 recognised Skyroot’s efforts in developing indigenous propulsion systems for next-generation launch vehicles. It was presented by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh in the presence of the then DST Secretary Dr S. Chandrasekhar and TDB Secretary Rajesh Kumar Pathak.
The Technology Development Board has been supporting the commercialisation of indigenous technologies across strategic sectors, including aerospace, defence, healthcare, biotechnology, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and digital technologies. The board said Skyroot’s success highlights the importance of identifying high-potential innovations at an early stage and providing institutional support that enables Indian technology companies to compete globally.
