Indian Space Association pitches for incubation centres in space technology parks, flags challenges faced by startups

ISpA, a non-profit, released a set of recommendations here at Aero India 2023.

The cost of technical infrastructure needed for design, development and testing is very high. Further, the space domain by itself is characterized by high investments and long gestation periods for return on investment, one of the three authors of the concept paper, ISpA director Wing Commander Satyam Kushwaha (rtd) has said.

For the reasons stated above as well as due to the government’s control over the space domain earlier, the bulk of such technical infrastructure for testing, calibration and validation is held by the government agencies like the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and other government-assisted labs.

While in recent times, the government has shown the inclination to give access to some of its infrastructure to the private industry, “there still exist challenges to their access and affordability on various counts which are impacting the pace of progress of our young startups, which operate under very thin budgets, the tight investor is driven milestones and very limited human resources,” Kushwaha said in his paper.

Given the above scenario, India must urgently invest in new-generation technical infrastructure as part of the STP to provide single-window affordable access to entrepreneurs for technology/product design, development, testing, validation and simulations, he suggested.

The key inputs for creating a comprehensive STP incentivization policy include administrative aspects, a single-window mechanism, financial enablement, a legal and policy framework, and skill and capacity development.The government framework required to enable STP development includes the adoption of a national geospatial policy and international cooperation and harmonization. The framework for STPs includes centres of excellence, ground infrastructure and facilities, testing facilities and services, a regulatory sandbox, and legal/intellectual property rights support.

The present status of STPs in India includes the Space Manufacturing Park and the Kerala Space Park, both of which are initiatives of the government and ISRO. The STPs will act as a comprehensive facility & state-of-the-art accelerator that provides support and resources to space-related startups, entrepreneurs, and businesses.

The infrastructure of the park would include state-of-the-art laboratory space, office facilities, and meeting rooms, as well as access to high-speed internet, advanced computing resources, and other essential tools and equipment.

Aashish Kumar and Abhinav Dubey, research assistants at ISpA co-authored the paper.

Lieutenant General AK Bhatt (retired), Director General, ISpA, said, “The development of STP is a critical step in the advancement of the country’s space industry and will have far reaching impacts on the economy, infrastructure, and quality of life in the years to come.”