New Recommendations for Space Technology Parks (STPs) in India
Indian Space Association organized the “India’s Defence Space Initiatives: Opportunities for Shaping Indian Private Space Ecosystem to lead Global Disruption” seminar at Aero India 2023 being held at Bengaluru.
At the seminar, ISpA released a Concept Paper on “Space Technology Parks To Energize Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Space Domain” on the sidelines of the Aero India 2023, focusing on the reforms and enablers needed to develop a framework for STPs and to support entrepreneurs in new space technology development. The concept paper aims towards strengthening “self-reliant” and “technologically advanced” initiatives of the government.
The event witnessed the presence of Chief Guest Dr. VK Saraswat, Member (S&T), NITI Aayog-GoI, Chancellor-Jawahar Lal Nehru University, and Former Chairman DRDO; Guest of Honor Shri Giridhar Aramane IAS, Defence Secretary & Secretary Defence Production, MoD; Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria (Retd), Former Chief of the Air Staff; Jayant D Patil, Chairman, ISpA; Ravinder Singh, Partner, Kalaari Capital; and leaders from across the Indian Defence Forces and the Space industry. As an apex industry body for private space players in India, ISpA has made dedicated efforts towards policy advocacy to facilitate space domain operations such as for Space Parks incubated firms across the Indian space industry.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. VK Saraswat, Member (S&T), NITI Aayog-GoI, Chancellor-Jawahar Lal Nehru University, Former DRDO Chief said, “Mission DefSpace will not only strengthen the forces but also provide new and innovative solutions. The space mission will provide a boost to the space-based technology with multiple civilian and military applications. As reliance on space grows, space-based assets will become centers of gravity and are likely to be targeted in war and less than war situations.”
Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane stressed upon the need for dual use of space domain and highlighted how major space powers are making major investments to develop space forces. He called for greater collaboration between the academia, innovators and entrepreneurs and the need to engage with the Defence Services to understand the needs and develop solutions with Indian characteristics, to make India technologically self-reliant to provide the much-needed strategic sovereignty.
As India’s position in the global space market grows, the STP policy advocates strategies and actions that the Indian space ecosystem needs to adopt for accelerating its growth. The development of Space Technology Parks would help in delivering fruitful solutions to overcome the underlying challenges in the space industry.
The significance of Space Technology Parks is essential as it has the potential to drive economic growth, bring significant socio-economic impact, create new jobs, and foster innovation in the space industry. Additionally, it will help in establishing a strong presence for India and other countries in the global space community and create new opportunities for collaboration and investment alongside leveraging the entrepreneurship and research ecosystem.
Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt (Retd.), Director General, Indian Space Association, “We are pleased to present the Concept paper on Space Technology Parks (STPs). We believe that with new innovations and technologies emerging at a rapid pace, the need for a dedicated Space Technology Park is apparent. The development of STP is a critical step in the advancement of the country’s space industry and will have far-reaching impacts on the economy, infrastructure, and quality of life in the years to come. By drawing parallels from the experiences of IT parks and industrial corridors, we can look forward to a future of continued growth, innovation, and prosperity in the space sector.”
