Mumbai: SPACEFEST, India’s first dedicated Space Tech and Sci-Fi themed festival, brought together policymakers, industry leaders, innovators, startups, creators, students and space enthusiasts to spotlight the opportunities shaping India’s rapidly evolving space and deep-tech landscape.

Primus Partners, as the Knowledge Partner for SPACEFEST, played a key role in shaping the thought leadership and strategic conversations around the initiative. Aarti Harbhajanka, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Primus Partners India, participated as a speaker, while Amit Purohit, Primus Partners, moderated the proceedings and media interaction.

The event, backed by the Government of Maharashtra and conceptualised by NODWIN Gaming, seeks to create a platform at the intersection of space science, technology, innovation, education and popular culture. SPACEFEST is envisioned as a convergence of space sciences, astronomy, science fiction, gaming, technology, innovation, creator communities and education, with the larger objective of making space and emerging technologies more engaging and accessible.

Nilaya Varma, Co-Founder & Group CEO, Primus Partners, said, “The strategic opportunity around India’s space economy lies in connecting policy ambition with industry capability, capital, talent and public imagination. With its strong industrial base and innovation ecosystem, Maharashtra is well positioned to anchor this convergence. SpaceFest is envisioned as a platform that can bring these elements together over time, creating the conditions for a deeper and more sustained space ecosystem.”

Speaking at the event, Aarti Harbhajanka, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Primus Partners India, emphasised that India’s ambitions in the space economy will require sustained ecosystem-building across policy, industry, startups, infrastructure and talent.

“SPACEFEST is not just a festival; it is the launchpad for a multi-year strategic journey to position Maharashtra as the space-tech and deep-tech capital of Asia. Building a strong space economy requires an enduring and structured ecosystem, with sustained pathways for startups, dedicated infrastructure and a future-ready talent pipeline,” said Aarti Harbhajanka, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Primus Partners India.

She further highlighted the importance of creating stronger connections between policy, industry, academia, startups and young talent, and the role of knowledge platforms and public-private collaboration in accelerating India’s space-tech ambitions.

As part of its contribution as Knowledge Partner, Primus Partners is supporting the strategic vision and thought leadership behind SPACEFEST, with a focus on translating conversations around space technology and innovation into actionable pathways for long-term economic and institutional capability. Aarti also outlined three key areas of focus for Maharashtra’s emerging space ecosystem: facilitating access to capital and startup support, developing infrastructure and industry clusters, and building a sustained talent pipeline through engagement with schools and universities.

The event also underscored the growing importance of Maharashtra as a potential hub for space technology, aerospace, advanced manufacturing and deep-tech. The SPACEFEST agenda highlighted the role of industry, government and knowledge partnerships in creating an enabling ecosystem for startups, technology companies and investors, while strengthening Maharashtra’s position as a destination for future industries.

SPACEFEST is designed to extend beyond a conventional industry gathering by combining serious conversations on science and technology with immersive experiences and popular culture. The festival programme includes scientist interactions, space-tech and startup showcases, sci-fi exhibits, creator sessions, student engagement programmes and future-technology experiences. A dedicated school outreach programme and college-level innovation challenge are also planned to encourage young people to explore opportunities in space, science and deep-tech.

The initiative comes at a significant time for India’s space sector, with progressive policy reforms opening greater opportunities for private participation and the country’s growing stature in the global space ecosystem. SPACEFEST aims to build on this momentum by bringing together the people, ideas and technologies shaping India’s next chapter in space.

Through its participation, Primus Partners reaffirmed its commitment to enabling future-ready ecosystems by bringing together policy expertise, industry understanding and strategic advisory capabilities. The firm’s involvement in SPACEFEST reflects its broader focus on helping governments and industry stakeholders translate emerging opportunities in aerospace, deep-tech and other future sectors into sustainable economic and institutional outcomes.

The inaugural SPACEFEST is envisioned as a platform that can build sustained momentum around India’s space ambitions, while making the possibilities of space technology more accessible to entrepreneurs, students, innovators and the wider public.