Dear Patrons,

SIA-India welcomes the appointment of Mr. Pawan Kumar Goenka as Chairperson, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre's (IN-SPACe). With the constitution of the Board under his chairmanship, the industry looks forward to actualization of the NGPE participation in India's Space economy. As an apex industry body, SIA-India offers its greetings to the newly appointed board and extends co-operation and support to the cause in all possible manner. As a nodal agency, INSPACE has an important role to play in the overall growth of the industry and a desired share of the global space economy.

Dr K Sivan, Chairman, ISRO, said India will soon allow overseas companies to invest in the space sector with a revised foreign direct investment (FDI) policy. We hope the FDI liberation measures are taken up soon to allow seamless investments into the sector under automatic route. [pls see link given below]

Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh recently stated that the recent Space sector reforms would give considerable impetus to the Indian Private Space Industry to contribute to the core elements of global space economy - space-based services, launch services, manufacturing of launch vehicles and satellites, establishment of ground segment and launch infrastructure - to a great extent. The constituting of the IN-SPACe is a logical starting point in this direction.

In a meeting with the Secretary [Defence] Dr Ajay Kumar, SIA-India led by President Dr Subba Rao Pavuluri,the association highlighted the possibilities for the country's Defence requirements with the emergence of the commercial space sector and Space start-ups in India. Dr. Ajay Kumar, Secretary (Defence) observed "While other countries are looking at space for leisure, in India we are still far behind in our development of Space technologies and the opportunities thereof" The indigenous industrial capability developed by the private sector over the years working with ISRO can play a significant role in meeting the upstream and downstream space based requirements of the Defence industry.

Dr. Pavuluri, President SIA-India, said: "The game-changer for the defence and space sectors relates to the qualification of indigenous space capabilities towards discharge of offset obligations. Sourcing of space equipment and services- such as launch services of foreign satellites through PSLV/GSLV, sounding rockets, components, etc. from the Indian private industry should be made eligible to meet offset obligation." SIA-India has recommended (1) Inclusion of the Space Sector in discharge of Defense Offset Obligation; (2) the use of existing satellite constellation capacity for immediate Defence needs and (3)introduce a PLI scheme for manufacturing in the Space and Defence sectors.

SIA-India held its 1st Meeting of the Committee on Startup Ecosystem on Friday Sept 10,2021. Highlights of the discussion are:

The various issues in the start-up ecosystem to be categorised under the following broad heads.

    Developmental challenges
    Need for shared infrastructure
    Accelerator Program
    Funding / Grants / Investments
    Role of Industries / Government / Regulator
    Creation of a business friendly environment.
    Emulate international best practices for start-ups