Igniting India's Space Sector: Manufacturing Shift on the Horizon

Former ISRO chairman S Somanath emphasizes the need for industrial manufacturing in India's commercial space sector. At the Invest Karnataka-2025 summit, he highlights investment opportunities in space tech and data services, urging investors and startups to capitalize on government policies favoring private participation.

Former ISRO chairman S Somanath has called for a strategic shift towards industrial manufacturing within India's commercial space sector as the country seeks to scale up its capabilities. Speaking at the Invest Karnataka-2025 summit, Somanath underlined the need for large corporations to establish manufacturing facilities to aid the burgeoning space industry.

Highlighting the unique opportunities Bengaluru offers due to its research and development ecosystem, Somanath pointed out that integrating various components of manufacturing, particularly in electronics and software, remains a challenge for the city. He expressed hope for the emergence of companies capable of providing comprehensive solutions, from satellite creation to successful launches.

Somanath also drew attention to promising investment opportunities in satellite-based services and data analysis, particularly in areas like weather forecasting and the blue economy. He advised startups to leverage freely available data, a boon from advances in the information technology sector that has made such resources readily accessible, lifting the financial burden off the government.