Nasir Rizwan, founder of SAFAR, the South Asian Facility for Analog Research, has been recognised in the National Space Society 30 Under 30 Class of 2026, earning international attention for his work in the space sector. The National Incubation Center for Aerospace Technologies, where his startup is based, celebrated the news as a proud moment for its entire community. The center said that watching its young innovators earn recognition beyond Pakistan is always special, and it congratulated Nasir Rizwan on an honour that places a founder from its program among a select group of emerging voices in space.
The 30 Under 30 designation from the National Space Society highlights young people who are making their mark in space related fields, and inclusion in the Class of 2026 marks a notable step for a Pakistani founder working in a field that remains new to the country’s startup scene. SAFAR focuses on analog research, a branch of space preparation in which conditions found on other worlds are simulated here on Earth so that scientists, engineers, and future explorers can study how people and systems perform in demanding environments. By building a facility for this kind of research in South Asia, the company aims to open a path for regional researchers and students who have historically had to look abroad to take part in such work.
The recognition also reflects the growing role of aerospace technology within Pakistan’s incubation network. The National Incubation Center for Aerospace Technologies supports early stage companies working on aviation, space, and related engineering challenges, and it operates with backing from Ignite and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication. For the center, seeing one of its founders named in an international class of young innovators demonstrates that startups built in Pakistan can earn standing on a global stage, even in specialized sectors where resources, funding, and technical infrastructure are limited. It also gives other founders in the program a visible example of what sustained dedication and ambition can achieve.
In its message to the founder, the center praised the dedication and ambition that Nasir Rizwan has shown and said it looks forward to watching him reach even greater milestones. The closing line of its congratulations urged him to keep reaching for the stars, a fitting sentiment for a founder whose company is built around preparing for life and research beyond Earth. As SAFAR continues to develop its analog research facility, the recognition from the National Space Society is likely to bring added attention to the company and to the wider effort of building space research capacity in the region, while inspiring a new generation of Pakistani students and entrepreneurs to consider careers in the space sector.
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