Entrepreneurship and networking in the space industry will be highlighted during a three-day international space conference themed “Space Technology: The Next Business Frontier”. The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-Madras) and the Indian Space Association (ISpA) are hosting a space conclave examining ways to maximize business opportunities and collaboration across the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. The event is organized by the US Consulate General in Chennai.
80 participants from various Indo-Pacific countries including India, US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Germany, UK, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia will take part in the three-day conclave from October 15 to November 17. Drew Schufletowski, Minister for Economics, Environment, Science and Technology at the US Embassy in New Delhi, made the following remarks during the opening session of the conclave: “The private sector has the greatest scope for expansion both here and in other spatial relations in the Indo-Pacific Partner. Private companies are becoming increasingly influential in the design and manufacture of launch vehicles, satellites, ground stations and other essential components for space exploration and applications, transforming the Indian space industry.”
Shufletovsky added: “Indian companies are developing their own constellations of Earth observation satellites and developing miniature launch vehicles to launch them into low Earth orbit. Through partnerships in trade, investment and technological cooperation, space companies in the United States and the Indo-Pacific can strengthen this commercial sector dynamic.” During the three-day summit, the main themes of space policy, scientific research and development and space entrepreneurship will be addressed. The meeting aims to establish the Association of Space Entrepreneurs in the Indo-Pacific (ASEIP), a networking and advocacy platform focused on entrepreneurship and innovation in the space industry. Stakeholders will propose a future roadmap to boost cross-border aerospace trade and interdisciplinary space research. The opening speech was given by Satya Chakravarthy, Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Head of the National Center for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD) at IIT-Madras.
(Source: IANS)
