New Delhi: India will soon join the league of nations with its own space station, as Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced the ambitious plan to establish the “Bharatiya Antriksh Station” by 2035. The announcement came today during a press interaction where Dr. Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, also unveiled a pioneering Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
The MoU sets the stage for a transformative alliance between space technology and biotechnology, aimed at fostering innovation and addressing global challenges. Dr. Singh highlighted this collaboration as a historic leap, bringing biotechnology out of laboratories and into the vast frontier of space.
The Minister credited ISRO Chairman S. Somnath and DBT Secretary Dr. Rajesh Gokhale for their roles in realizing this partnership. Emphasizing the role of public-private participation, Dr. Singh noted that the number of Indian space startups has skyrocketed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to open the space sector, with nearly 300 startups now driving advancements across the space economy.
The Bharatiya Antriksh Station will serve as a critical platform for research in fields such as microgravity biotechnology, space biomanufacturing, and bioastronautics. Dr. Singh announced that the collaboration will support India’s human space program, advancing research in human health, regenerative medicine, pharmaceuticals, and eco-friendly biomanufacturing. In tandem with the new BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) Policy, the partnership seeks to grow India’s bioeconomy to $300 billion by 2030.
ISRO and DBT’s cooperation will create new avenues for startups in space and biotechnology, offering significant opportunities to commercialize innovative technologies. Dr. Singh concluded with optimism, envisioning that this union of space and biotech will not only propel India’s scientific achievements forward but also contribute to global advancements in sustainable solutions and biotechnological research.
Present at the event were senior figures, including Dr. Ramesh V. Sonti, Director of ICGEB, Dr. Alka Sharma, Chief Scientist in DBT, and other dignitaries, underscoring the commitment driving this bold initiative.