IIT Guwahati and Skyroot Aerospace Partner to Advance India’s Space Tech Ecosystem

Author : Yasaswini Sampathkumar

Published:   1 February 2026 | Category:  Research & Partnerships | Office:  Assam Academic and Health Innovation Initiative

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with Skyroot Aerospace, India's leading private space launch company. The partnership brings together two organisations with complementary and mutually reinforcing strengths — IIT Guwahati's advanced research capability in additive manufacturing, and Skyroot's position at the forefront of India's private space launch industry. The expectation on both sides is that the combination will produce synergistic outcomes.

How is IIT Guwahati 3D-printing rocket parts for Skyroot?

The MoU formalises and expands a research relationship that was already producing results. Dr. Sajan Kapil and his team in the Department of Mechanical Engineering have been collaborating with Skyroot on Wire Arc Directed Energy Deposition and Laser Powder DED. These are advanced manufacturing processes used to produce high-performance metallic components for space applications. 

Several successful case studies have been completed, and an ANRF-funded research grant, with Skyroot as an honorary partner, is currently underway focusing on copper and copper-alloy deposition.

The MoU builds on this foundation with a significantly broader mandate.

"We have been working closely with the Skyroot team on realising metallic parts using Wire Arc Directed Energy Deposition and have already completed a few successful case studies. We look forward to deepening this collaboration toward space-grade additive manufacturing solutions."

— Dr. Sajan Kapil, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Guwahati

Bridging the gap between frontier research and space-ready tech

For Skyroot, access to IIT Guwahati's research expertise addresses a critical challenge in advanced space manufacturing: bridging the distance between frontier research and components that can be produced reliably and at scale. Additive manufacturing for space-grade applications demands exceptional precision. Components must perform under conditions of extreme stress and in the vacuum of space. IIT Guwahati's active research programme in this area provides Skyroot with the scientific depth needed to accelerate that process.

"IIT Guwahati has been a strong supporter of our metal additive manufacturing research. This partnership will help us translate research into production-ready solutions at scale."

— Mr. Ashwin Mahavadi, Senior Vice President, Skyroot Aerospace

What does this mean for IIT Guwahati students?

The return for IIT Guwahati is equally significant. Through subsidised payload opportunities on Skyroot's Vikram-series launch vehicles, students will be able to fly research experiments to space — a form of hands-on engagement with live missions that is rare among academic institutions. Internships and thesis projects embedded within Skyroot's R&D ecosystem will further ensure that students engage with the full arc of a space programme, from design through to launch.

Skyroot's engineers and technical professionals will, in parallel, be eligible to pursue postgraduate and doctoral programmes at IIT Guwahati. This reverse flow of industry expertise into the Institute's research environment is a distinctive feature of the collaboration. This will enrich the academic experience for all students and keep research grounded in the practical demands of an active industry.

"IIT Guwahati sees strong value in engaging with young and innovation-driven companies like Skyroot Aerospace that are shaping India's space ecosystem. Such partnerships reflect IIT Guwahati's vision of enabling translational research and nurturing indigenous high-technology ventures in India."

— Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati

Building India’s space workforce through joint degree programmes

The collaboration extends beyond the immediate research agenda. Joint undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes in space and aerospace technologies are planned, establishing a dedicated academic pathway in a field of growing national importance. Shared research facilities, technical advisory exchanges, and joint training programmes will sustain active engagement between the two institutions throughout the duration of the MoU and beyond.

The partnership is intended not only as a productive bilateral arrangement, but as a demonstration of how India's academic institutions and its emerging private space sector can develop in concert. Each can strengthen the capacity to contribute to the nation's ambitions in space.

The team behind the MoU

The five-year MoU was formally signed by Prof. Sumana Dutta (Dean of Alumni and External Relations, IIT Guwahati) and Mr. Ashwin Mahavadi (Senior Vice President, Skyroot Aerospace).

The signing was witnessed by a core group of leaders and engineers who will be driving this collaboration forward:

• Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati

• Prof. Sukumar Nandi, Dean of Administration, IIT Guwahati

• Prof. Rohit Sinha, Dean of R&D, IIT Guwahati

• Dr. Sajan Kapil, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Guwahati

• Mr. Venkata Sandeep Kumar D., R&D Engineer, Skyroot Aerospace

  
  

Who is Skyroot Aerospace?

Skyroot made history in 2022 as the first private Indian company to launch a rocket into space (the Vikram-S). Based in Hyderabad and backed by global powerhouse investors like GIC and Temasek, they are currently scaling up for commercial orbital launches with the Vikram-1.

Why this matters for India

This isn't just a bilateral agreement. By linking India's research at IIT Guwahati with the private sector, the partnership ensures that "Make in India" applies to the stars, too.