New Delhi, India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the CEOs and founders of 20 Indian space startups, discussing the growth of the country’s private space industry and ways to expand the use of space technologies beyond the sector itself.
The interaction, held at Seva Teerth, brought together entrepreneurs working across areas including rocket development, reusable semi-cryogenic launch vehicles, avionics, satellites, advanced propulsion, space and defence intelligence, space debris removal and AI-powered weather and climate intelligence.
The startup leaders outlined the progress of India’s private space industry and their efforts to develop capabilities and technologies domestically. They also pointed to the support received from the government and collaboration within the industry as factors helping companies pursue their expansion plans.
The founders said the decision to open the space sector to private participation had generated significant interest and created new opportunities for businesses. They also noted growing interest from companies in other countries seeking to adopt or use technologies developed by India’s emerging private space sector.
Modi said the participation of private companies had strengthened India’s broader ambitions in the space sector. He pointed to the opportunity for India to expand its position in the global space industry, particularly as some countries either lack the capacity or do not intend to make investments in the sector.
The Prime Minister urged space companies to look beyond traditional applications and develop technologies that can directly improve people’s lives. He suggested collaboration between space businesses and organisations in other fields, including environmental groups working on space debris and agricultural institutions using satellite-based technologies to help farmers make better-informed decisions.
Modi also called for stronger links between space companies and Atal Tinkering Labs to encourage curiosity about space among children at an early age. He said India should aim to build an ecosystem capable of attracting global talent, companies and investment to its space sector.
The participating startups included Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos, Pixxel, Dhruva Space, GalaxEye, Bellatrix Aerospace, Digantara, SatSure, Manastu Space and several other space technology companies.
Source: This article is based on an official press release issued by the Press Information Bureau
Press Release: Press Information Bureau
