The National Incubation Center for Aerospace Technologies (NICAT) has officially launched its call for applications for Cohort 6, inviting high-potential startups to take flight in Pakistan’s expanding innovation ecosystem.
Established in 2022 and backed by the Ministry of IT & Telecom through Ignite – National Technology Fund, NICAT is managed by a powerful consortium led by Netsol, in partnership with NASTP, Air University, and PAC Kamra. It has rapidly become Pakistan’s premier launchpad for aerospace and deep-tech ventures, having already incubated 77 startups, attracted over PKR 1.2 billion in investment, generated PKR 3.1 billion in revenue, and created more than 20,000 jobs.
Cohort 6 is set to raise the bar by focusing on startups addressing critical national needs in defense, private aviation, space tech, and frontier technologies. With a keen eye on advanced manufacturing and dual-use solutions, NICAT aims to build supply chains and capabilities that can compete globally.
Startups selected for this cohort will undergo an intense, bootcamp-style journey covering everything from market validation and compliance to investor readiness and strategic scaling. The program is uniquely designed to meet the demands of aerospace and deep-tech ventures, offering tailored mentorship, regulatory support, and access to cutting-edge labs and investors.
Shayan Yar, Program Director at NICAT, emphasized the program’s mission to support founders tackling bold, complex challenges. “NICAT was built for those who dare to innovate in high-stakes domains. If you’re working on a breakthrough in aerospace, defense, or emerging tech, this is the ecosystem that can help you scale with purpose.”
Echoing this vision, Adeel Aijaz Shaikh, CEO of Ignite, highlighted NICAT as a flagship model of public-private partnership driving indigenous innovation and global competitiveness.
NICAT’s commitment to inclusivity remains a core pillar, as the incubator actively encourages applications from women founders, differently abled individuals, and entrepreneurs from underserved regions. It offers a supportive, inclusive environment to ensure diverse voices help shape Pakistan’s tech future.
Applications are now open to startups with prototypes, MVPs, or ready-to-scale innovations across sectors such as aerospace, AI, IoT, defense tech, clean energy, biotech, fintech, agri-tech, and other deep-tech areas aligned with sustainable development goals.
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With Cohort 6, NICAT continues to build a high-impact runway for the next generation of Pakistani innovators ready to lead in the global deep-tech arena.