ISRO 'wholeheartedly' invites the private sector to make India a 'global technology powerhouse'

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is calling for applications from the private sector even before the Indian Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) is formalised.
  
• ISRO chairman K. Sivan believes the new reform will help India become a ‘global technology powerhouse’.
  
• He explains how IN-SPACe will be a separate vertical within the Department of Space (DoS) will representation from all stakeholders and how this new reform will work.
  

India’s nodal space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation, is “wholeheartedly” inviting the private sector to participate in the country’s new space era through its new nodal agency, the Indian Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).

“India is among a handful of countries with advanced space technology that can play a significant role in boosting the industrial base of the country,” said the agency’s chairman K Sivan during a press conference. According to him, the new reform will allow India to become a ‘global technology powerhouse’.


Even though it will take another three to six months for the system to be formalised, he highlighted that private players need no wait and can start sending in their applications to the Department of Space (DoS) immediately.

“We will process the requirements and do the needful even now itself. In fact, private companies have already approached us for the use of ISRO’s facilities and we are processing the request in fast-track mode,” said Sivan.

India’s new nodal agency, IN-SPACe — and how it’s going to work
IN-SPACe will be an autonomous nodal agency the DoS as a separate vertical for taking independent decisions with respect to permitting and regulating the activities of private companies in the space sector.

It will have its own directorates for technical, legal, safety and security, activity promotions as well as for monetary purposes so that they can take independent decisions.

The agency’s board will have representation from industry, academia, and the government of India. “IN-SPACe will act as a national nodal agency for hand-holding and promoting private sector in space endeavours — and for this, ISRO will share its technical expertise and facilities,” explained Sivan.

Through IN-SPACe, private companies will be permitted to build facilities within DoS premises as per the need and feasibility. They will be able to apply directly to the agency and then, IN-SPACe will independently evaluate and process the applications.

According to Sivan, once it gives its decision, it will be binding to all stakeholders. “ISRO will wholeheartedly support the private sector as per IN-SPACe decisions,” said Sivan.

He added that the establishment of IN-SPACe doesn’t mean that ISRO will be doing any less. It will continue to carry out space activities including advanced R&D, interplanetary missions, human spaceflight and capacity building activities.

SEE ALSO:
ISRO may quietly gain a cost advantage despite the delay in Gaganyaan and Chandrayaan 3, says an expert

Space age 2.0 has kicked off — here are five ways that India's ISRO can capitalise on this window of opportunity