An Odisha-based deeptech startup called Coratia Technologies is putting itself at the forefront of India’s infrastructure protection and underwater defense. The company specializes in creating domestic maritime robots for defense, inspection, and surveillance uses.
These devices are designed to protect vital undersea infrastructure that are essential to India’s digital and economic lifelines, including pipelines, ports, bridges, fiber-optic cables, and subsea facilities.
Debendra Pradhan and Biswajit Swain, two NIT Rourkela mechanical engineering graduates, founded the business in 2021 in response to a Ministry of Earth Sciences academic challenge. At the Singapore Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Challenge, the team first created autonomous underwater robots that could shoot projectiles at targets and navigate obstacles. This effort brought them both national and worldwide notoriety.
Coratia’s business journey was made possible by their 99% of the world’s internet traffic is sent via undersea cables, so any disruption may seriously impair government communications, cloud services, and financial activities. The deployment of domestic inspection and monitoring robots is strategically necessary due to India’s low capacity for cable repair.
early successIn addition to government incentives, the start-up has raised ₹22 crore from investors such as Pontaq Ventures, MGF Kavachh, and Piper Serica Angel Fund. When it was awarded a ₹66 crore contract to sell its robotic systems to the Indian Navy under the Ministry of Defence’s iDEX project, its credibility was further solidified. In an era of increased geopolitical unpredictability, this agreement highlights the strategic value of domestic technology in supporting India’s marine security.
99% of the world’s internet traffic is sent via undersea cables, so any disruption may seriously impair government communications, cloud services, and financial activities. The deployment of domestic inspection and monitoring robots is straUnderwater salvage, infrastructure inspection, and danger assessment are just a few of the jobs that Coratia’s robots are built to do. Given that subsea networks are susceptible to both intentional attacks and unintentional damage from fishing trawlers, these capabilities are very important. Coratia hopes to increase India’s ability to withstand disruptions that can have detrimental effects on the country’s economy and security by providing mission-ready technologies.Pakistan-India Relationstegically necessary due to India’s low capacity for cable repair.
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Coratia’s journey from university research to national defence contracts reflects the growing role of deeptech start-ups in India’s strategic ecosystem.
Indian Economy InsightsBy combining academic innovation with industrial application, the company has carved out a niche in marine robotics that directly addresses India’s vulnerabilities in undersea infrastructure.
As geopolitical tensions continue to highlight the fragility of global data highways, Coratia Technologies is building a future where indigenous machines safeguard the nation’s digital and maritime lifelines.
