Lok Sabha Question No. 2542 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-11
Subject: Private Companies working with ISRO
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: Shri Prabhakar Reddy Vemireddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2542

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2024

## PRIVATE COMPANIES WORKING WITH ISRO

2542.  SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY VEMIREDDY:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the detailed list of private companies (domestic / international) which have partnered with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)  for  space  exploration  and  technology  projects  in  the country along with their scope, duration and purpose of collaborations during the last five years;
- (b) the details of the steps taken by the Government to encourage and incentivise private sector participation in space exploration and technology development in the Country during the last five years; and
- (c) the details of  the  total  number  of  inventions  and  patents registered by private companies associated/working with ISRO in regard to space exploration and technology in the country during the last five years?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

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- (a) The industry participation has been the back bone for the Indian Space  Programme  since  its inception. Indian Industry has reached a matured level of self-sufficiency to produce materials, components  and  sub-systems for both launch vehicle and satellites. However, there is no specific partnered space exploration/ technology  projects  between  ISRO  and  private companies.

Supports  from  industries  are  also  being  harnessed  through mechanism like Purchase Order including technology developmental orders for various space systems of ISRO, Contract, Memorandum of Understanding and Technology Transfer. Many products are successfully developed and realized through industries for the Indian Space Programme. Considering the  future  DOS  programmes  and  advanced  space  missions  in anvil,  ISRO  always  strives  to  increase  the  participation  of industry  in  all  the  programmes  by  leveraging  their  strengths  in focus areas of interest.

- (b) The  Indian  government  has  taken  the  following  measures  to encourage and incentivise private sector participation in space exploration and technology development in India:
- i. The  space  sector  has  been  liberalised  and  private  sector allowed to carry out end to end space activities.
- ii. Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) was created in Department of Space for promoting, authorising and overseeing the activities of nongovernment entities (NGEs) in Space Sector.
- iii. The Indian Space Policy - 2023 has been formulated by the Government to provide regulatory certainty to space activities  by  various  stakeholders,  in  order  to  create  a thriving space ecosystem.
- iv. Various  schemes  to  encourage  and  hand  hold  private sector also announced and implemented by IN-SPACe, i.e., Seed  fund  Scheme,  Pricing  Support  Policy,  Mentorship support,  Technical  Centre,  Design  Lab  for  NGEs,  Skill Development  in  Space  Sector,  ISRO  facility  utilisation support,  Technology  Transfer  to  NGEs,  creation  of  INSPACe Digital Platform to connect with all the stakeholders of space ecosystem etc.
- v. The number of Space Start-Ups have gone up, from just 1 in
- 2014 to around 266 as on date.
- vi. IN-SPACe has signed around 71 MoUs with NonGovernment Entities  (NGEs)  to  provide  necessary  support for realization of space systems and applications envisaged by such NGEs, which is expected to increase the industry participation in manufacturing of launch vehicles and satellites.
- vii. In order to ease access to foreign capital by Indian NGEs, the Central Government has brought out revised FDI policy for Space Sector.
- viii. Decadal  vision  and  strategy  for  Indian  space  economy  is also  announced  by  IN-SPACe,  which  shall  increase  the share of India in overall space economy.
- ix. The  Union  Cabinet  has  approved  the  establishment  of a Rs.1,000  crore  Venture  Capital  (VC)  Fund dedicated  to supporting India's space sector.
- x. IN-SPACe has initiated Establishment of Earth Observation (EO)  System  under  Public  Private  Partnership  (PPP).  The Expression of Interest (EOI) is invited from NonGovernment Entities (NGEs).
- xi. Technology  Transfer  of  Small  Satellite  Launch  Vehicle (SSLV) to Indian entities is under process and response to RFP is invited from shortlisted bidders.
- xii. Announcement  of  Opportunity  is  made  by  IN-SPACe  for making available Indian orbital resources to the NGEs. Bid is under consideration and one Indian entity is selected.
- (c) Patents originated from ISRO are filed and the patenting process is  managed  by  ISRO.  Details  of  the  inventions  and  patents registered  by  private  companies  are  not  available  with  ISRO/ DOS. Also, ISRO does not own any patent with private companies as of now.

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