Expediting India’s NewSpace Economy by Strengthening Industry- Academia– Government Collaboration
India’s space sector has seen remarkable progress in recent years. Alongside ISRO and progressive government policy reforms, industry, startups, and academia have played a pivotal role in driving this advancement. Strengthening Industry–Academia engagement is pivotal to accelerating India’s NewSpace sector, as it enables the effective translation of research, innovation, and talent into commercially viable outcomes. Deeper collaboration helps align academic R&D with industry requirements, accelerate technology maturation, and develop a future-ready workforce, thereby shortening innovation cycles and enhancing India’s global competitiveness.
The Government of India is placing strong emphasis on Industry–Academia collaboration in the space sector through progressive frameworks such as the Indian Space Policy 2023. Initiatives like Antariksh Jigyasa and Antariksh Prayogshala further underscore the focus on enhancing private sector participation, driving innovation, and nurturing skilled human capital to support a vibrant and sustainable space ecosystem.
To advance this effort, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and IN-SPACe organised the "Conclave on Expediting India’s NewSpace Economy by Strengthening Industry – Academia- Government Engagement" on 24 March 2026, in New Delhi.
Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe, Department of Space, Government of India, thanked CII for organising this first-of-its-kind collaborative event. He noted that while the space sector is six decades old, it is currently a "sunrise sector" that has transformed tremendously in recent years. With 400+ startups, USD 160 million in funding, and deep-tech development, India is a global leader. However, to reach the USD 44 billion target by 2033, academia must play a larger role in space tech education, incubation, and cutting-edge R&D. He projected that 100,000 engineers will join the space industry in the next five years. He highlighted that dozens of colleges have started space courses, and AICTE has introduced six minors in space. To address the gaps, ISRO and IN-SPACe have launched the Antariksh Prayogshala, CANSAT, and model rocketry programs, as well as the Pre-Incubation Entrepreneurship (PIE) program. Regarding R&D, he noted that ISRO’s RESPOND projects are facilitating the conversion of Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) from TRL-3 to TRL-8.
Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, Former Chairperson. University Grants Commission (UGC) emphasised that, having served on the board of IN-SPACe for five years, he has seen space become India’s most visible scientific achievement. He stated that India has proven that mission clarity and institutional patience can create global capabilities, such as in deep-space missions and Earth Observation observatories. In the last five years, the sector has expanded beyond rocketry into electronics, materials, and analytics, impacting logistics, disaster management, and agriculture. He highlighted that the Indian Space Policy and FDI reforms have contributed significantly to this growth. He stressed the need for skilled personnel to transform lab-level research into deployment, supported by reforms like the NEP-2020 and the Finance Ministry's announcement of five university townships as hubs for young talent.
Dr. Prateek Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Delhi Technological University (DTU), highlighted that India currently stands among the world leaders in space. He stated that the target is to reach a USD 30– USD 40 billion space economy by 2040, and this workshop is a critical initiative to reach that milestone. He discussed the "Triple Helix Model" of industry-academia-government synergy and listed 12 key enablers to achieve this target. These include reducing fragmentation, establishing incubation centres, sponsoring PhDs, and creating robust regulatory frameworks. He noted that NEP-2020 has transformed the education sector by enabling lifelong learning and aligning curricula with industry needs, as students are often not "industry-ready" immediately after their B.Tech. He highlighted that unique risk-taking capabilities exist within academia, where 100 experiments might fail so the 101st can succeed - a luxury that allows for innovation while the industry focuses on commercialisation. He cited global examples such as MIT-NASA and ESA-Europe as models for the growing ISRO-Indian university partnership.
Dr. Vinod Kumar, Director of the Promotion Directorate at IN-SPACe, delivered the vote of thanks. He described the initiative as a "helix partnership," noting that while academia produces excellent patents and research, they must be translated into commercial success. He announced six new initiatives: an industry-ready B.Tech. curriculum, the 2nd version of the model rocketry program, the 3rd version of the CANSAT program, Antariksh Prayogshala, and 12 faculty development courses.
Mr Apparao Mallavarapu, Chairman of the CII National Committee on Space and CMD of Centum Electronics, emphasised that the government-academia-industry synergy has fundamentally expanded the dynamics of the space ecosystem. He noted that this synergy will enable the seamless conversion of scientific technology into industrial applications. He expressed his appreciation for the Government of India and IN-SPACe for the Indian Space Policy 2023 and the Antariksh Prayogshala initiative, which help build an ecosystem where space talent and research can thrive. These, he noted, are the three pillars required to create globally competitive space companies.
Mr Rohan M. Ganapathy, Co-chairman of the CII National Committee on Space and Founder & CEO of Bellatrix Aerospace, highlighted that since starting his journey in 2012, the ecosystem has undergone a "magical transformation." He observed that India is transitioning into a vibrant ecosystem led by the government, with future transformation accelerated by these synergies, where the government's role is both catalytic and enabling. He pointed out that many companies have their origins in academia, noting that innovation begins in the classroom. However, promising research often struggles to find a path to commercialisation, which is where government-academia partnerships become necessary. He stressed that India needs better coordination and connection, providing students with hands-on exposure to real-world challenges through institutional support. He expressed gratitude to IN-SPACe and ISRO for lowering barriers and supporting his company’s growth.
The event also witnessed the exchange of MoUs between IN-SPACe and Chanakya University with the purpose of collaborating on curriculum development and programs that provide benefits to students, non-governmental entities (NGEs) and academia working in the field of space technology.
The event brought together 200+ experts from IN-SPACe, ISRO, space-tech startups, and user industries to bring together academia, industry and government to accelerate innovation, skill development, and collaborative research in the space domain.
24 March 2026
New Delhi