SIA-India Presents India Space Congress 2022 'Leveraging Space to Power Next-Gen Communication & Businesses', to be held from 26-28 October in New Delhi. ISC-22 Supported by NITI Aayog, ISRO, Dept of Defence Production, IN-SPACe, Department of Telecommunications (DOT) & New space India Ltd [NSIL].

Hosted for the first time by the SatCom Industry Association, [SIA-India], ISC is a congregation of domestic and international industry experts, government, policymakers, thought leaders, legal professionals and academia in the space sector to discuss strategic measures to efficiently manage space exploration, new disruptive space-based services and applications, viable business models, space situational awareness and cyber security.

The vision of ISC-22 is to bring all the high-level stakeholders together from space agencies, industry, and institutions around the world under one roof to swap insights, strategies, and rising trends for collaborative development of the space ecosystem in India and bring global and regional economic benefits.

The conference has support from 6 State Governments India and 21 associations' both national and international.

"The Indian space sector is witnessing encouraging space entrepreneurship, investments, and foreign collaborations along with capacity-building measures for preparing the youth for future opportunities. SIA-India is already working with some of the best associations, institutions and academics to build the industry-academia connect stronger to achieve market access, innovation exchange, funding access, and fulfill joint research objectives. I am sure SIA-India can successfully bridge the gaps and India Space Congress 2022 is timely planned event for giving the platform to all the stakeholders to discuss the way forward for the space ecosystem." Dr. Subba Rao Pavuluri, President SIA-India and CMD, Ananth Technologies Ltd.

The ISC has close to 180+ confirmed speakers.. The agenda enumerates 24 Keynote addresses and 35 Panel discussions on critical topics that affect the Space industry deeply.



Space Economy in India

Anil Prakash; Director General SIA-India said: 'Space Market dynamics are changing with the liberalization of the sector. There are a number of policies being announced by the government that has enthused interest in private space companies to be the co-travelers in India's space journey and contribute substantially to the global space economy'

India is among a handful of countries with advanced capabilities in the space sector and with ISRO targeting a 10% market share in the global space sector by 2025 which would be an approximate target of a $50Bn space economy. Dr. S Somanath, Chairman ISRO, in various industry forums has stated that India targets to garner 50% market share at $.75 Tn by 2047. The target is achievable considering the recent hyper-drive of Space sector reforms, the emergence of larger investments, and internationally competitive actors rivaling their global counterparts with aggressive expansion strategies.

In the upcoming India Space congress 2022, being held in New Delhi in October, international experts will discuss current 'Space economy' which would include 'Vision and Strategy', 'SatCom Evolution', 'New Space Opportunities'- which would lead to closer scrutiny in sessions on 'In-orbit Technologies', Growth and diversity of SatCom', 'Earth observation' etc. Keeping in view the heavy investment and long gestation period of the industry, sessions on 'Space investment outlook and Funding for new ventures' 'Space Law', 'Expanding Space Business'. Building Space clusters will be a crucial element in creating a robust business ecology, and 'helping industry base for space capabilities'- regulatory hiccups must be addressed- and ' a balanced approach to Spectrum allocation' will be discussed. 'Satellites for IoT, Drones and Autonomous vehicles' and 'satellite for 5G and beyond' will be addressed. Space being a borderless entity, International collaborations have to be facilitated, alliances must be created. For skilling and capacity building, academia will play a big role, start ups will have to be hand held through mentorship programs. Through it all, securing the space assets becomes vital and 'Cyber security framework' will need a thorough discussion by experts.



Currently, India is home to as many as 75,000 start-ups, though only 100+ are deep tech space startups. The sector will require special attention by the Govt before it can achieve its full potential.

ISRO and INSPACe signing several MOUs recently with start-ups would enable the private industry and start-ups to perform space activities such as - rocket-building, satellite-building, owning, and operating spacecraft, and providing space and ground-based services etc.

Space tech is all set to power Gati-Shakti, modern air, naval and ground operations and provide critical support in not just commercial applications but also for defence, disaster management and climate change monitoring requirements.



The scope of the spatial data market is huge, and with the liberalization of the geospatial policy in 2021, India is getting ready not only to serve the Indian market but global customers.

The geospatial market in India is projected to grow between different scenarios to between INR 52,770 to Rs 63,100 crore by 2025.



Spacetech R&D requires huge investment by the govt. It is only recently that private sector has augmented its technology capabilities with business models in an arena that has largely been driven by national government space missions. The government has allocated nearly $2 bn USD for the ISRO and as a premier institution, we can expect them to address the cutting edge of science and technology to developing national capabilities.

The government needs to form a dedicated strategy to exploit India's satellite manufacturing and launch capability. Driving this effort, the government must ensure greater budgetary support.

There is an urgent need for the upcoming space policy to adopt an open-sky policy that allows market economics to drive the supply & demand of satellite capacity between users and satellite operators.

India's liability for space activities

India has ratified the Outer Space Treaty (1967) and the Liability Convention (1971), and is, therefore, liable internationally for damage caused by objects it launches into outer space (including to celestial bodies). Its absolute liability extends to damage caused on Earth and in airspace (including to aircrafts and their passenger and cargo), while its fault-based liability extends to space objects of other launching States, including persons and objects on board. India is also jointly and severally liable for objects launched from another country at its behest.

India does not have any domestic legislation or policy governing space activities and concomitant liability. The Space Activities Bill, which prescribed licensing requirements, indemnification of the Government by private parties from damage caused by licensed space activities, and the procurement of insurance in connection with potential loss or damage, has not been enacted. The SpaceCom Policy, 2020, which proposed that liability for potential damages form part of space asset authorisations, remains in draft form.

With India striving to become a powerhouse in the space industry, it is imperative that it enacts comprehensive legislation to regulate space activity, which clearly spells out how liability is to be borne.

'Bharucha and Partners'

Absence of a Space Act and lack of clarity on liabilities or responsibilities the private companies when damage is caused by the foreign space operator, the Indian Governmental Space Agency holds private entities responsible for any damage caused during space operations, which creates an undue burden on private entities especially start-ups that have limited financial capacity and resources. However, due to international best practices in foreign nations mentioned above, the sub-sections of private players in the space industry have flourished as they focus on reduction, limitation of liabilities of damage caused.

India needs to move swiftly and bring in the National Space Act and SpaceCom policy which lay a facilitating risk management framework for the industry. The policy must define the scope of damage to include all types of damage caused in all stages viz., prelaunch- launch-in orbit. A smooth space traffic management framework must also take into account the insurer's or actuary's point of view as well.

The ISC'22 will also include Start-up Pitch, an opportunity for Space entrepreneurs including the ones on the fence, whether in launch capabilities, Satellite systems that bring unique advantages, building communications or remote sensing satellite constellations, generating insights from space-based data, or even working on space sustainability.

The start-ups get A great chance for start ups to develop relationships with a global network of key decision-makers driving innovation and economic change in SpaceTech, validating their opportunities, and accelerating their businesses.

SIA-India will also hold Space Excellence Awards to celebrate innovation across the full spectrum of space domains for outstanding achievements in the Space and Satellite ecosystem in India.

The Conference has received over 45 full-length original research contributions by professionals from Academic Institutions, Government Undertakings, Research Scholars, and Student communities across the Nation. The best 3 submissions will receive cash awards and will be published in the industry publications of repute.