Chanakya U Forum on Sept 10 Links 4 Space Leaders to Academia

For higher-ed and edtech stakeholders, Chanakya University's new forum is a case study in how institutions can turn a sector-specific industry cluster into curriculum and talent pipelines. By convening ISRO veterans, space-tech founders, and venture investors on campus-linked programming, the event points to experiential learning models that go beyond traditional lectures.

Chanakya University used the inaugural edition of its Chanakya Convergence Forum on September 10, 2026 to place itself at the intersection of India's academic and space-tech communities. According to a syndicated press release distributed by India PR Distribution and carried by multiple outlets, the evening event at Accel LaunchPad in Bengaluru's Koramangala district convened ISRO veterans, private space startup founders, venture investors, and academic researchers around the theme 'India's Space Economy & The Next Decade.' The framing is explicitly a long-term play: the university's Chancellor, Dr. S. Somanath, former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, used his keynote to call for sustained investment in space research and allied sectors, and to urge industry partners to collaborate with Chanakya on R&D so future innovators get hands-on training.

“

The centerpiece was a panel titled 'Who Will Build India's Space-Tech Future?' featuring Prashanth Prakash, Partner at Accel India; Suyash Singh, Co-founder of GalaxEye Space; and Prof.

The centerpiece was a panel titled 'Who Will Build India's Space-Tech Future?' featuring Prashanth Prakash, Partner at Accel India; Suyash Singh, Co-founder of GalaxEye Space; and Prof. Duvvuri Subrahmanyam of IISc. The commentary, as summarized in the release, offered a mix of optimism and realism. Prakash characterized India's private space-tech sector as still in its early days with exciting days ahead. Singh highlighted the need for greater innovation and policy support. Subrahmanyam expressed confidence that academia and industry would align more closely on space research. The event also recognized four contributors: Prof. P.A. Ramakrishna of IIT Madras, Dr. V.R. Lalithambika of ISRO, Suyash Singh, and Prof. Subrahmanyam, for their work in growing India's space sector.

Mohandas Pai, Chairman of Aarin Capital, further anchored the forum's economic and entrepreneurial framing. He called for increased investment in infrastructure and R&D for India's economy, urged young attendees to dream big, build startups and create jobs, and while candid about gaps in policy, reform, and governance, closed on an optimistic note about India's path to becoming a developed nation. This blend of venture capital encouragement and policy critique is consistent with the broader push by Indian investors to make the country a competitive space economy.

The forum arrives at a pivotal moment for India's space sector. Since the 2020 reforms that opened the sector to private participation, startups such as GalaxEye Space have emerged to build satellite imaging and other technologies, while ISRO remains the anchor institution. Academia, however, has often lagged behind the pace of private-sector hiring and prototyping. Chanakya University's explicit attempt to connect students and faculty with active practitioners is an attempt to close that gap. The choice of Accel LaunchPad as a venue, rather than a campus auditorium, also signals that the university wants proximity to Bengaluru's startup ecosystem.