Hyderabad Startup EON Space Labs Showcases Indigenous Space and Surveillance Technologies at Bharat Innovates 2026
Deep-tech company outlines ambitious roadmap spanning defence, space, rail safety and aerial imaging applications
Punit Badeka and Sanjay Kumar, co-founders of EON Space Labs, at Bharat Innovates 2026 in Nice, France, meeting Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goel, showcase their indigenous AI-enabled imaging and surveillance technologies.
Nice (France)/Hyderabad: Hyderabad-based space-tech startup EON Space Labs showcased its flagship indigenous technologies and unveiled its 2026 roadmap at Bharat Innovates 2026, the international innovation event being held in Nice, France.
Selected among the top 120 Indian startups participating in the event, EON Space Labs is developing advanced Electro-Optical (EO), Infrared (IR) and AI-enabled imaging systems for applications across space, aerial and ground-based platforms.
The startup showcased a range of AI-enabled EO/IR payloads designed for drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), intelligent surveillance and tracking systems, and compact satellite imaging technologies aimed at strengthening India’s capabilities in strategic and high-technology sectors.
Among its recent innovations is a Germanium-Free Thermal Imaging System, developed to enhance indigenous and supply-chain-resilient electro-optical and infrared capabilities.
Bharat Innovates 2026, jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, has brought together startups, investors, technology leaders, researchers and policymakers from India and Europe to accelerate innovation partnerships, investments and global market access for deep-tech companies.
The event features participation from leading innovation institutions and corporations, including the European Innovation Council, Safran, Thales Alenia Space, Sony Innovation Fund and TotalEnergies.
“We’re extremely grateful to be selected for the maiden edition of Bharat Innovates 2026. It’s a great opportunity for us to showcase our work focused on building India’s technological sovereignty and present our innovations on a global stage,” said Punit Badeka, co-founder of EON Space Labs.
Ambitious 2026 Roadmap
As part of its roadmap for the coming year, EON Space Labs is advancing several technology validation and deployment milestones across space, defence and commercial sectors.
The company expects to complete field trials of its iDEX-backed handheld thermal imaging system being developed for the Indian Navy by the end of June.
It is also preparing for a high-altitude balloon mission scheduled for July, which will carry imaging payloads to altitudes of approximately 25–30 kilometres to capture near-space Earth observation imagery.
In the space segment, the startup is targeting a SpaceX-linked mission window around September-October, marking an important step in validating its imaging technologies for future space applications.
Beyond defence and space, EON is exploring innovative applications in transportation and wildlife protection. The company is working on railway safety solutions, including an elephant detection system intended for pilot deployment on railway tracks in Odisha.
International opportunities are also being explored, including camel detection systems for railway networks in the United Arab Emirates, as well as aircraft landing and runway monitoring applications.
The technologies being developed by EON Space Labs are aimed at supporting defence, aerospace, surveillance, homeland security and strategic intelligence requirements while contributing to India’s broader vision of technological self-reliance and indigenous innovation.
With increasing focus on advanced imaging, AI-powered sensing and sovereign technology capabilities, the startup is positioning itself as part of India’s growing deep-tech ecosystem that is attracting global attention through initiatives such as Bharat Innovates.
