The India Space Congress 2023 focused on Reimagining Space Sector for empowering socio-economic development. The welcome addressed, presented by Dr Subba Rao Pavuluri, CMD Ananth Technologies and President SIA-India, emphasized on the space activities of India and their focus on the long-term sustainability of outer space activities.
Dr Shailesh Nayak, Director NIAS, Former Secretary MoES, Govt of India, explained the theme and discussed in detail the need for empowering socio-economic development.
While talking about the Indian Space sector, Nathan de Ruiter, Managing Director, Euroconsult explained that in order to supersize the Indian Space Economy, upstream investments are required to enable the downstream value creation.
“India is an important target market to unlock various opportunities such as Mobile broadband, earth observation, Satellite IoT, Direct to cellphone, Launch/Access to space, Space sustainability etc.”
He laid out seven Super Opportunities’ for the growth of the space sector worldwide:
- Broadband connectivity
- Earth observation
- Defense and Security
- Satellite IoT/ Direct to cellphone
- Launch/Access to space
- Space sustainability
- Space Exploration
He further stated “India’s advance space capabilities have attracted partners, funding, and collaborations from across the world.”
Alex MacDonald, Chief Economist, NASA said “Space sector is going under a renaissance. New players, companies, new projects, missions, space stations, flights, and voyagers. This brings about a need for commitment towards sustainable and responsible space exploration activities.” He then discussed the importance of conferences like the India Space Congress and in parallel discussed the outcomes of the recent G20 meet in Bengaluru.
“Increasing numbers of different space actors and a foray into innovation, we are at a critical junction in the world space sector. The collaborations between these actors will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the space as we know it. We must work to channel the sustainable practices on earth, as well as, preserve the space environment for future activities,” he added.
Alex applauded ISRO’s various initiatives from Chandrayaan to the NISAR project. He then spoke at length about the NISAR project, discussing NASA and ISRO’s role. He termed NISAR as ‘the most advanced radar system ever launched’ as part of any NASA science mission and emphasized on the hand-to-hand equal stake in the project by both the agencies.
Shri S Somanath, Secretary DOS and Chairman, ISRO took the stage to provide his valuable insights on a host of topics.
“We have built our own SSLV which will be transferred to the industry and produced in large numbers to meet the growing demand of the sector.”
“A new announcements for the space reform in India, first the space policy was launched and simultaneously a new institution was created In-Space, which is a regulator and a promoter. I think you would have never heard of such terminology, an organization being a regulator and also a promoter. So its regulation is not for stopping anybody from doing anything. It is actually for creating new opportunities,” he said.
While talking about the Indian space sector, he said “We are also understanding the change that is happening across the globe. I think that is a very interesting thing that we heard today about the global space economy and its potential growth. I think this has been well understood now and we also see there is a possibility for India to grow to.”
“India has witnessed a remarkable economic spur under the leadership of PM Modi. Today I would like to acknowledge the incredible achievement of ISRO and its space endeavors. ISRO has been contributing to disaster management, ISR capabilities, monitoring our national resources thus empowering India’s socio-economic prowess,” said Shri Bandaru Dattatraya, Governor of Haryana.
“Today, ISRO is working with nearly 150 private startups. Earlier, there were no startups at all and only ISRO had to take the brunt of innovating and providing space services to the country. But considering the private landscape now with more and more startups coming in, it is highly remarkable and I would like to congratulate all the investors and creators of these startups,” he added.
