January 29, 2026
India's Human Space Programme is entering a transformative phase with the development of short-duration human spaceflight missions under Gaganyaan, progressing towards a sustained human presence in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) through the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS). These missions are envisioned not only as technological milestones but also as platforms to enable cutting-edge scientific research in the unique environment of microgravity. In view of this vision, ISRO announces the Indian Microgravity Experiments - IMEx-2026, an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) inviting proposals from the Indian research community to conceptualise, develop, and demonstrate scientifically meaningful microgravity experiments. India's Human Space Programme is entering a transformative phase with the development of short-duration human spaceflight missions under Gaganyaan, progressing towards a sustained human presence in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) through the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS). These missions are envisioned not only as technological milestones but also as platforms to enable cutting-edge scientific research in the unique environment of microgravity. In view of this vision, ISRO announces the Indian Microgravity Experiments - IMEx-2026, an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) inviting proposals from the Indian research community to conceptualise, develop, and demonstrate scientifically meaningful microgravity experiments.
IMEx-2026 encourages proposals spanning a wide range of microgravity disciplines, including but not limited to: Materials Science, Space Biology and Biotechnology, Space Agriculture, Pharmacology and Drug Research, Fluid Physics and Thermal Transport, Combustion and Fire Safety, In-space Manufacturing and Processing.
Applications are open to Principal Investigators (PIs) affiliated with: Government-recognised academic institutions, National research laboratories, Indian start-ups and industry.
Under IMEx-2026, PIs are expected to first demonstrate the scientific feasibility of their proposed experiments through laboratory-scale models using their own institutional resources. Based on the quality, maturity, and potential impact of the proposed research, promising experiments may be supported for validation on terrestrial microgravity platforms. Subsequently, select experiments—subject to safety, feasibility, platform constraints, and expected scientific outcomes—may be considered for ISRO-enabled flight opportunities in LEO, including aboard the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
Throughout the programme, ISRO will provide mentoring, technical guidance, and engineering coordination, as appropriate, as available, to enable successful execution of selected experiments. All collaborations and support arrangements will be formalised through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between HSFC and the participating institutions or entities.
IMEx-2026 represents a significant opportunity for Indian researchers to contribute directly to the nation's human spaceflight programme while advancing fundamental and applied science in microgravity. Researchers with compelling ideas that require the microgravity environment are encouraged to participate and be part of India's journey towards sustained human presence in space.
Click here for details of the Announcement of Opportunity, eligibility, proposal format, and submission process.
Proposals submitted by February 28, 2026 shall be considered for the current cycle.