AWS launches dedicated space accelerator for startups in India

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched a space accelerator in India, supporting 24 startups across diverse segments such as launch vehicles, satellite imagery, geospatial analysis, and precision farming, the world’s biggest cloud computing provider said in a recent press release.

The 14-week program, a result of AWS’s partnership with ISRO and IN-SPACe, offers up to $100,000 in AWS credits, technical training, and mentorship. Startups will gain expertise in AI, data analytics, and business fundamentals, culminating in a demo day to showcase their innovations.

Syrma SGS to build India’s largest PCB unit in Andhra Pradesh with Rs 1,800 crore investment

Syrma SGS Technology, a Chennai-based electronics manufacturer, plans to invest Rs 1,800 crore to establish India’s largest multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) and copper clad laminate (CCL) manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh, Economic Times reports. The integrated unit, expected to be commissioned by 2026-27 in Naidupeta near Tirupati, will use proximity to Chennai’s electronics hub and aims to reduce India’s reliance on imported PCB materials.

Mini focus on robotics

RoboBusiness Pitchfire competition opens for robotics startups

The 2025 RoboBusiness Pitchfire Startup Competition is now accepting applications from robotics startups. Held October 15-16 in Santa Clara, California, the event offers founders a chance to pitch their solutions to industry judges for a $5,000 prize and exposure to investors and industry leaders.

Filics secures €13.5 million to expand robotics platform

German robotics startup Filics has raised €13.5 million in a new funding round led by Sandwater, Alven, F-LOG Ventures, and the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund. The investment will accelerate development and international rollout of the Filics Unit, an autonomous double-runner robot system for pallet transport.

Filics aims to optimize its technology for floor block warehouses by late 2025 and expand into other European markets in 2026, addressing key logistics and space efficiency challenges.

NEURA Robotics and Hyundai partner to advance shipbuilding automation

NEURA Robotics has entered a strategic partnership with HD Hyundai Samho and HD Hyundai Robotics to develop and test quadruped and humanoid robots for shipbuilding. The collaboration combines NEURA’s cognitive robotics technology with Hyundai’s expertise in automation and welding, aiming to enhance efficiency, safety, and productivity in shipyards.

Humanoid robots near tipping point as costs fall and adoption rises – Bain & Co

Humanoid robots are advancing rapidly, with new research showing they could soon match or surpass human labor in both capability and cost. According to a recent analysis by the multinational consultancy Bain & Co., four key trends are converging: robots’ mobility and dexterity now rival humans, AI-powered training is becoming easier, costs are dropping sharply, and generative AI is enabling more general-purpose intelligence.

The unit cost of humanoid robots has fallen by at least 40 percent since 2022, with some models now as affordable as minimum-wage labour in the US, Bain notes in its report on this topic, titled Humanoid Robots at Work: What Executives Need to Know. Market projections estimate the humanoid robotics sector could reach $38–$200 billion by 2035, with global startup funding in the field surging from $308 million in 2020 to $1.1 billion in 2024.

While mass deployment is still a few years away, Bain urges executives to start experimenting with prototypes and planning for integration. The technology’s rapid progress suggests humanoid robots will soon take on a significant share of physical jobs in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and beyond.

For in-depth conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders and other stakeholders building India’s deep tech and climate tech ecosystems, please listen to my India Tech Report: In Conversation podcast.

To support my work, please subscribe to my free newsletter India Tech Report.