Space Start-ups Story: Over 50 start-ups working in space sector to explore the untapped potential

The space sector and industry has the ability to foster a thriving ecosystem of entrepreneurs and private businesses with India’s policies and reforms aiding in the success. It is worth noting that the current valuation of the global space economy stands at about USD 360 billion. Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh, recently, has stated that more than 50 start-ups were working in the space sector and about 10 of them have funding of over Rs 50 crore or more individually. The Minister was presiding over a high-level joint meeting of all the Science Ministries and Science Department at Prithvi Bhawan.

Exploring the untapped potential:

Last year, in 2021, Agnikul and Skyroot, two space-based startups signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with the Indian space agency (Indian Space Research Organisation) with the view to access facilities and expertise in developing and testing Space Launch Vehicle subsystems and systems. These examples indicate the intervention of private players in the space sector and hence, the far-reaching reforms in the Space Sector are aimed at boosting private sector participation in the entire range of space activities.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that after the unlocking of the Space Sector for private players, Innovative Start-Ups are coming in a big way to explore the untapped potential. Addressing the meeting the Minister also noted that apart from NAVIC based applications, Start-ups are also working on software solutions for debris management in Space having global ramifications.

Scientific solutions for sectors:

Different scientific solutions for sectors are being put to application including sectors like:
agriculture, land mapping, dairy, food, education, skill, railways, roads, Jal Shakti, power, coal and sewage cleaning to name a few. The Minister said, building on from previous such meetings, Joint Working Groups are being set up between Science Departments and Line Ministries to speed up identification of the scientific applications for proposals and problems of Line Ministries.

R&D, Innovation and STI Ecosystem: 

As informed by the Minister in his address , the first round of meetings involving Science Ministries and Departments from the Centre and all States and UTs has been completed and demands from the States for scientific solutions are being compiled.

Dr Jitendra Singh informed that Gujarat is the only State in the country to have S&T policy, but after brainstorming sessions for the last four months, 11 more states including Sikkim, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh are preparing their S&T policy. Each of the States and Union Territories has been asked to identify the areas where technological interventions can help in resolving diverse problems to enable ease of living for common man.

Revisiting the Steps taken to initiate private participation in the space sector: 

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh informed the various initiatives that have been taken to enable the participation from the private players for the development of the Space sector. The minister informed that Government in the year 2020 has announced reforms in the space sector including:

– IN-SPACEe: A national-level autonomous Nodal Agency – Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) under DOS has been created for promoting, handholding, authorizing and licensing private players to carry out Space Activities.

– Access to ISRO facilities and expertise is extended to private entities to support their space activities. Apart from this ISRO will also nurture Indian space industries by sharing its experiences on quality and reliability protocols, documentation, testing procedures etc.

– New Space India Ltd (NSIL), the CPSE under DOS will transfer the matured technologies developed by ISRO to Indian industries.

– To facilitate private sector participation in Space activities, the existing policies in the space domain are being revised and new policies are being drafted to address policy frameworks for various areas such as SpaceCom, Remote Sensing, Technology Transfer, Navigation, Space Transportation, Space exploration and Space Situational Awareness.

– In order to address the necessary legal framework, the department is also in the process of enacting National legislation. The draft Space Activities Bill has completed Public and Legal consultations and will be processed for further approvals for inter-ministerial consultations.

– The Minister also informed that the government is in the process of planning to allow FDI with the view to boost the investment in the space sector by the foreign players.