To establish Telangana as a globally recognised one-stop destination in Space Technology.
Space Technology has evolved beyond curious explorations to solving real-life problems on earth. It plays an increasingly pivotal role in the efficient functioning of modern societies and their economic development. Space holds the power to unlock highly impactful solutions at scale and directly impact the lives of billions of humans.
SpaceTech offers new means to address global challenges and encompasses satellites, space stations, ground stations, monitoring and tracking centres, downstream analytics and AI, software, etc. Satellites offer a cost-effective way to build capacity for earth observation, communication and navigation services even in the remotest of locations. Satellite-based earth observation data is essential, reliable and accurate and its effective use can support data-driven decisions for businesses and governments.
The satellites can be used to enable high-speed connectivity for the underserved and otherwise noneconomically viable geographies. The satellite data can be effectively used in the implementation of action plans for intelligent agriculture, managing land & water resources, developing urban & rural infrastructure, monitoring weather & climate, protecting the environment including disaster risk reduction and more.
Globally, the space industry was valued at USD 360 Bn in 2018 and is expected to grow to USD 558 Bn by 2026 and to about USD 1 Trillion by 2040. Currently, India occupies a meagre 2% or USD 7 Bn of this market value and that is despite Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) being one of the leading space agencies globally with projects such as Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) and Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC). A possible reason is that traditionally ISRO has carried out the critical value addition activities in-house and the private industry’s contribution to the Indian space sector has been mostly limited to subcontracting by ISRO. Hence, Indian private players have lacked end-to-end capabilities in SpaceTech compared to other global leaders.
There is now a national impetus to accelerate the private industry’s contribution in the Indian space sector with the release of SpaceCom Policy 2020, Space RS Policy 2020, Geospatial Policy 2021, etc. and the establishment of agencies like NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN–SPACe). Further, the Department of Space (DOS) has also indicated that a comprehensive Space Act and various other policies such as for launch vehicles and space exploration policy are also in the pipeline.
Hyderabad, the capital city of Telangana, is uniquely positioned to become a hub for space related activities owing to synergies with the existing Aerospace and Defence ecosystem and its global supply chain. The availability of infrastructure such as 4 dedicated aerospace parks, 2 hardware parks and 50 general engineering parks, T-Works – India’s largest prototyping center shall streamline the manufacturing and time to market. The presence of national facilities like National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), etc. shall further boost collaborative development efforts.
Telangana is already a leader in SpaceTech with the existing presence of global companies, mid-size and startups in the sector. This is evident as the State produced 30% of parts for the Mars Orbiter Mission. Hence, the State shall leverage its innovation ecosystem to provide holistic support to the industry and be key to the national growth of the SpaceTech industry.
The Vision
The Government of Telangana has been one of the frontrunners in adopting emerging technologies and has taken up several initiatives to develop a conducive ecosystem for the industry in the State. It recognizes the potential of space technology and its applications for the socio-economic development of the State and the nation. In line with the ongoing efforts of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Space (DoS) and Indian Space Research Agency (ISRO) to encourage private sector’s participation in SpaceTech. The State envisions to:
Establish Telangana as a globally recognized one-stop destination in Space Technology.
The Telangana State is keen on ensuring that it becomes an end-to-end manufacturing hub from design to testing and launch as the private industry builds system-level integration capacity. The downstream applications of the space technology shall be leveraged to directly impact citizen’s life with agricultural studies, disaster management, weather forecasting among others. The technology shall be promoted across all areas such as scientific research, mapping and surveying, environmental monitoring, natural resources management, geological and oceanographic studies, and more. The direct multiplier effect resulting from the growth of the industry shall boost the economic output of associated industries such as manufacturing, telecom, insurance, among others. This policy aims to achieve the following objectives:
- Become a global technology hub for SpaceTech
- Foster and support business and entrepreneurship in SpaceTech
- Attract global investments and partners
- Boost space-related manufacturing and become a preferred destination
- Become the preferred testbed for remote sensing applications especially for socioeconomic development
Key pillars of the framework
In an effort to achieve the above discussed objectives and position Telangana as the primary hub for all space-related activities, the government has consulted various stakeholders from industry, academia, national agencies, startups and other domain experts to come up with the State’s strategy that consists of four key pillars.
1. Enabling access to infrastructure
Telangana based entities were responsible for 30% of the parts for the much applauded ISRO’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM). The State is also leading the way in supporting downstream service providers to build and test solutions such as for agriculture. To further establish Telangana as the go-to location for activities across the space market’s value chain, requisite infrastructure is a necessity and the State endeavors to facilitate the same.
2. Business Facilitation and Collaboration
The global space industry is growing at a CAGR of 5.6% to reach USD 558 Bn in 2026. Of the USD 360 Bn world market in 2018, India was valued at just USD 7 Bn or about 2% but now the Indian Space ecosystem is undergoing several policy reforms to engage private players and attract innovation and investment. It is paramount to nurture the growth in the sector to ensure its rapid growth and hence, the Government of Telangana has identified key areas to support the industry in achieving the same.
3. Skill Development & Training
Quality manpower is critical in the SpaceTech sector, espicially in the upstream segment, as there is limited scope for error. In order to establish Telangana as the beacon of private innovation in SpaceTech, attracting and grooming talent is paramount. The bright future of the SpaceTech industry has been unlocked by recent reforms and an associated massive demand for an employable workforce is imminent. Hence, the State government with the Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge (TASK) shall undertake initiatives to train the youth in required skill sets.
4. Promoting Research & Innovation
Technology dominance across industries is the key to a nation’s growth as apart from domestic applications, it unlocks international opportunities. SpaceTech in particular has witnessed countries race towards establishing their superiority. Research and innovation are the most critical levers to deliver growth in a highly competitive industry and truly unlock the impact that SpaceTech can have on citizens. The State government shall undertake initiatives in this pillar in close collaboration with Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH).
