INDIA: The grand commencement of the 3rd Annual India Space Congress (ISC) 2024 marked a significant milestone in enhancing India’s space capabilities through international collaboration. Organized by SatCom Industry Association (SIA-India), a key advocate for space exploration and technological advancement, the three-day event is themed ‘Space Innovation: Bridging Boundaries and Transforming Tomorrow’ and is being held at The Lalit, New Delhi.
The first day of ISC 2024 saw an enthusiastic response from the global space industry, with over 300 organizations and nearly 200 speakers participating. Key highlights included the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Mount Tech Growth Fund-Kavachh (MGF-Kavachh) and SIA-India, and the unveiling of the whitepaper “Bridging the Digital Divide in India via Satellite” by the chairmen of ISRO, TRAI, and IN-SPACe.
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S. Somanath, Chairman of ISRO, emphasized the importance of collaboration in advancing India’s space operations: “ISRO has created significant space capability and talent in the country. It’s time for new actors to scale India’s space operations. Bringing down the cost of access to space is a global trend, and India must also look at it. Space can never be solely for business and economy; it must inspire generations to innovate for humanity.” He also highlighted the upcoming launch of GSAT-20, a high-throughput Ka-band satellite.
Notable participants included Shri S. Somanath, Secretary DoS and Chairman, ISRO; H.E. Mr. Philip Green OAM, High Commissioner of Australia to India; Dr. Pawan Kumar Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe; Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman, TRAI; Air Vice Marshal Rahul Bhasin, ACAS (Ops) Space, Air HQ on behalf of Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh PVSM, AVSM; Mr. Rainer Horn, Managing Partner, Novaspace; and Mr. Deepak Mathur, Executive Vice President, SES. The day concluded with participation from over 700 delegates and representatives from 30 countries.
Dr. Pawan Kumar Goenka highlighted the growth of the private sector: “All space startups in India are deep-tech and exploring new frontiers. We have more than 200 startups, and this number will rise post-FDI policy. The enthusiasm of the private sector is high, with the private space sector in India receiving $135 million in investment last year alone.”
Mr. Anil Kumar Lahoti emphasized the potential of satellite technology: “Satellite technology is experiencing revolutionary growth and will play a vital role in enhancing connectivity in remote areas.”
H.E. Philip Green OAM emphasized the strategic partnership between India and Australia: “We now describe India as a top-tier strategic partner in space, alongside the USA and Japan. Australia’s unique geography and competencies in robotics, composites, and rare earth materials position us as a valuable partner for India.”
AVM Bhasin discussed the integration of air and space operations: “Air and space operations cannot be segregated and conducted in isolation. The future involves evolving the Indian Air Force into a force capable of seamless operations in air and space domains.”
Dr. Deepak Mathur of SES noted the rapid advancement in the industry: “We are moving from arithmetic progression to geometric progression of progress, from being risk-averse to full throttle. The space industry is ripe for bridging the digital divide, with over 10,000 space firms globally.”
Rainer Horn of Novaspace praised India’s growing prominence: “India has put itself on the global map for space and is now a serious global player. We anticipate a 60% growth in Indian space investments over the next 10 years.”
Dr. Subba Rao highlighted India’s integration into the global supply chain: “The Indian ecosystem is integrating into the global supply chain to bring the benefits of space to all, aiming to make India the hub of global satellite manufacturing.”
ISC 2024 continues to foster international collaboration and innovation, positioning India as a pivotal player in the global space industry.
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