Chennai: The technology development board (TDB) has signed an agreement with space-tech startupAgnikul Cosmos for Rs 200 crore financial support under the research development and innovation (RDI) fund through optionally convertible debentures. Agnikul was among the first cohort of startups to receive RDI funding. It raised about $17 million from venture capital in Sept 2025.The proposed architecture is designed to enable high-frequency and repeatable launches while reducing launch and manufacturing costs, a release on Friday noted. It is expected to support the development and validation of technologies required for a reusable launch architecture, including propulsion, ascent systems, orbital insertion, descent and recovery. Rajesh Kumar Pathak, secretary of TDB, which comes under the department of science and technology (DST) said, “Through the RDI Fund, TDB is supporting the development of ambitious indigenous technologies that require sustained investment to progress from advanced technology stages towards deployment. The Agnibaan RLV programme reflects this approach by focusing on the development of a reusable launch architecture.”
