New Delhi [India], November 18 (ANI): The Indian Space Association (ISpA), in collaboration with ISRO and IN-SPACe, on Tuesday inaugurated the 4th edition of the India International Space Conclave (IISC) 2025 in New Delhi. The opening session featured Chief Guest Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (IC) for Science and Technology and the Department of Space, along with several distinguished leaders including Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe; Takashi Ariyoshi, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in India; H.E. Antonio Bartoli, Ambassador of Italy to India; Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari (Retd.), former Chief of the Indian Air Force; and Gp. Capt. Shubhanshu Shukla, Astronaut, ISRO.
Addressing the conclave, Dr. Singh said, “Space reforms in the last five years have been a turning point. Our space economy was dispersed and was not even considered a part of the economy. Today, the Indian space economy is USD 8 billion, and at the pace it is moving, projections show it will rise to USD 44–45 billion in the next 10 years. In the times to come, space is expected to be a significant contributor to India’s economic growth as it advances up the ranks. Around 70 percent of our space-driven applications are aimed at easing daily life and focusing on the common citizen, which is not the specific attention of many countries that are actively working in the space sector.”
Gp. Capt. Shubhanshu Shukla, Astronaut, ISRO, shared his experience, saying, “When you cross the boundary of space, you are given a number, and I was number 634. But when I came back, kids told me, ‘We didn’t know there was an ISS in space before you went; we cared because you were there.’ When you see someone like yourself doing things you find impossible, it gives you the courage to dream. We have established extremely ambitious goals, but to achieve them, we all must be active participants. The sky was never the limit — not for me, not for you, and not for Bharat.”
Antonio Bartoli, Ambassador of Italy to India, said, “India’s technological achievements and global vision make it an increasingly key player in the field of space, and we look with admiration at such results. Italy is recognized globally as a leading nation in the space sector and is among the few countries capable of covering the entire space value chain. Space remains a priority on our bilateral agenda, and we can further build on the strong complementarity between our two industrial ecosystems. The spirit of collaboration between our nations is already a reality and will deepen in the years ahead.”
Takashi Ariyoshi, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in India, said, “It is an honour to join the India International Space Conclave 2025 and witness the growing partnership between Japan and India in the space domain. Our nations, bound by shared values and deep mutual trust, are advancing meaningful cooperation across security, innovation and exploration. The progress we are making in lunar missions, climate initiatives and space science reflects the strength of our collaboration and our shared commitment to the future. Continued engagement among industry, government and academia will help us build a stronger and more vibrant space ecosystem.”
Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe, noted, “A lot of progress has been made in the last year, and I’m very happy to see the growing collaboration with companies in other countries. I’m also pleased to see significant private-sector investment in infrastructure and innovative projects. It is encouraging to see how aggressively young companies are pursuing business development. We will have the capacity, capability and talent and will also attract investments. Success will not come simply from having the ecosystem; it will come from generating demand. Thinking big, avoiding shortcuts, perseverance and collaboration are key factors.”
AT Ramchandani, Senior Vice President and Head of Precision Engineering and Systems at L&T and Chairman of ISpA, said, “India’s space journey has always been defined by pioneers who worked with limited resources but limitless imagination. Today, with ISRO, IN-SPACe and private-sector vision aligning, we are witnessing a maturing ecosystem progressing at remarkable speed. At ISpA, our commitment is to work closely with industry, government and academia to build an innovative, competitive and future-ready ecosystem. Together, we are prepared to script the next chapter of India’s space odyssey and inspire the next generation of explorers.”
Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt (Retd.), Director General of ISpA, said, “We are witnessing growing interest from several international trade agencies, signalling expanding opportunities in India’s space sector. The coming year is expected to see numerous rocket launches and multi-sensor satellite missions, reflecting the dynamism of our space ecosystem. Strengthening collaborations, especially with partners like Japan, is vital as we jointly advance security, innovation and exploration. This collective effort will help build a resilient and thriving space industry for India.”
During the inaugural session, Viasat India announced a partnership with BSNL to commercialize Viasat’s Velaris satellite connectivity solutions for uncrewed aircraft, enabling secure beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations and supporting India’s expanding low-altitude economy. Novaspace also announced the opening of its India office in Bengaluru to accelerate the nation’s growing space economy and foster stronger collaboration with government, industry and startups, while extending its global consulting and market intelligence network.
Gautam Sharma, Managing Director of Viasat India, said, “We are excited to launch the Velaris solution to support India’s growing low-altitude economy, including unmanned aerial vehicles and advanced air mobility such as air ambulances. This connectivity will ensure secure command and control for critical operations, including infrastructure monitoring and emergency services. We are also partnering with Indian startups and BSNL to build a strong and innovative ecosystem for this emerging sector.”
The conclave also saw the release of publications titled Valuation and Fundraising in Aerospace Startups: TRL vs. MRL — India’s Road to Space Industrialisation, the India DefSpace Symposium 2025 Technical Report, and the ISpA–Satsure Joint Paper on Agristack Solutions.
This premier space industry event brings together senior government officials, global and Indian industry leaders, agencies, innovators and policymakers over two days. With more than 100 delegates and over 600 attendees, the forum is expected to deliver actionable outcomes. (ANI)
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