A new chapter in India’s industrial landscape is unfolding as West Bengal steps into the aerospace sector with an ambitious, innovation-led initiative spearheaded by Kolkata-based entrepreneur Amit Chakraborty. The venture aims to position the state as a hub for advanced aviation technologies while generating long-term employment in highly skilled domains.

Chakraborty’s journey into aerospace innovation is anything but conventional. Having worked as a medical representative from 1991 to 2008, he closely observed the growing stress levels among ordinary people—an issue he believes indirectly fueled the expansion of the pharmaceutical industry. According to him, this trend conflicted with the foundational principles of healthcare, prompting him to explore alternative sectors that could create more sustainable societal impact.

His research began in 2016, when he realized that developing proprietary technology and securing patents were essential prerequisites for building a manufacturing ecosystem. A turning point came when he encountered demonstrations by Eric Laithwaite, whose work with rotational dynamics inspired Chakraborty to rethink propulsion systems.

Drawing from these principles, Chakraborty (nicknames himself as The Playing Captain in Social media) conceptualized a novel approach to electric propulsion. He theorizes that controlled rotational motion could influence how objects interact with gravitational forces, potentially improving lift efficiency. This idea led to the development of what he calls Laithwaite Electric VTOL Engines, designed to reduce dependence on conventional aviation fuels.

A core aspect of his design philosophy focuses on minimizing mass. By eliminating liquid propellants and traditional fuels, Chakraborty claims that aircraft mass could be reduced by over 60%, leaving only about 40% to be actively powered. The system relies on continuous energy generation through onboard alternators, enabling sustained operation with lower energy input once motion is achieved. He also emphasizes that the highest energy demand occurs during the transition from rest to motion—commonly referred to as “cranking”—after which maintaining velocity requires comparatively less power.

While these concepts challenge established aerospace engineering norms and will require rigorous scientific validation, they have sparked interest for their potential implications in sustainable aviation and space mobility.

The initiative is being driven under the banner of Assetmit Ventures & Holdings, which has already launched a recruitment drive aimed at attracting talent across engineering, research, and operations. The company envisions creating a robust aerospace ecosystem in West Bengal, with downstream opportunities in manufacturing, training, and space tourism.

Industry observers note that if successfully realized, such ventures could diversify India’s aerospace capabilities beyond traditional hubs and open new avenues for employment in next-generation technologies.

For more details and application opportunities, interested candidates can visit: https://www.assetmit.in