IIT Madras Urges Indo-Pacific Nations to Strengthen Partnerships in Space Sector

New Delhi: IIT Madras, U.S. Consulate General in Chennai, and the Indian Space Association (ISpA) have urged governments and corporate sector in Indo-Pacific nations to increase research and commercial engagement in the space technology sector.

On January 25, 2023, Professor V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, published a whitepaper named "Space Technology: The Next Business Frontier - Opportunities and Challenges for the Indo-Pacific Region" and gave the first print to Judith Ravin, U.S. Consul in Chennai.

IIT Madras conducted a three-day international conclave in partnership with ISpA and assistance from the U.S. Consulate Chennai from October 15 to 17, 2022, where the white paper was presented.

The cooperation between the three organisations revealed the primary areas where additional collaboration might be most beneficial, which are: Make in Space for Use, Make on Earth for Use in Space, and Make in Space for Use Back on Earth.

The whitepaper will be extensively distributed to essential players in India, United States, Indo-Pacific region, and other nations who are pioneers, rising markets or aiming to grow their countries' space industries. It is now available at spaceconclave2022.wixsite.com/spaceconclave.

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Representatives of fifteen different nations' space agencies, along with NASA, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Australian Space Agency (ASA) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) participated in the conference.

Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, noted during the white paper release that "the space sector, especially in India, is heading towards large-scale commercialization. Rapid launches, sea launches, and a variety of satellites are a few areas in which many private businesses and start-ups are in the advanced phases of research.”

He added, “What's wonderful about today is that regulations and several collaborations have allowed us to close things more quickly. I would like Space Tech Conclaves to become an annual event with sub-group meetings happening at regular intervals”.

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