India and EU Strengthen Space Cooperation in High-Level Meeting

New Delhi: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh hosted a high-level delegation from the European Union (EU) today in New Delhi, led by Commissioner Andrius Kubilius and accompanied by space sector experts. The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation between India and Europe in space exploration, with a focus on ongoing and future collaborations.

On the Indian side, V. Narayanan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), along with other senior space scientists and officials from the Department of Space, participated in the meeting.

In his address to the delegation, Dr. Singh highlighted the long history of India-EU space cooperation and its continued growth. He traced India’s space journey, noting its transformation over the past six decades into a global benchmark for space exploration. He pointed to India’s independent capabilities in satellite development, launching, and operation, emphasizing the country’s ability to leverage satellite technology for societal benefits.

Dr. Singh celebrated India’s recent space successes, such as the Chandrayaan-3 mission, the SPADEX mission, and the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. He expressed confidence that India would play a leading role in 21st-century space exploration, with ambitious plans for continued progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Dr. Singh further outlined India’s ambitious space vision, which is in alignment with the country’s broader goal of becoming a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047. He credited Prime Minister Modi for laying the groundwork for India’s space agenda, which includes the continuation of the Gaganyaan program, India’s human spaceflight mission, the establishment of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (Indian Space Station), and a future Indian landing on the Moon.

The Union Minister also acknowledged the strong cooperation between India and Europe in the space sector, noting contributions from European Space Agency (ESA), EUMETSAT, and other European industries. These partnerships have supported India’s space program, including key collaborations on liquid engine development, India’s first communication satellite, and contributions to Aditya and Chandrayaan-3 missions.

Dr. Singh emphasized the rapid expansion of India’s space program, particularly since the late 2000s, with missions focused on the Moon, Mars, and the Sun. He also highlighted India’s plans for human spaceflight missions in the coming years.

Dr. Singh informed the delegation about the space sector reforms introduced in 2020, which opened the field to private investment. This included the establishment of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) to promote non-governmental space activities, marking a significant shift in India’s space landscape.

India’s burgeoning space startup ecosystem was also discussed. Dr. Singh noted that more than 200 startups are involved in areas such as rocket building, satellite manufacturing, and ground segment operations, with many of these startups also establishing a presence in Europe, marking a new phase in global space collaboration.

Looking ahead, Dr. Singh emphasized India’s expanded space program, which includes missions for human spaceflight, space stations, and advances in rocket technologies. He stressed that India’s growing private space industry would provide a strong foundation for deepening collaboration with Europe.

Dr. Singh also announced that ISRO will host the Global Conference on Space Exploration (GLEX) in May 2025 in New Delhi, in association with the International Astronautical Federation. He extended an invitation to all stakeholders in the European space ecosystem to participate in the event.

Along with Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, the delegation included key figures such as Benjamin Hartmann, Cabinet Expert; Capt (N) Fabrizio Falzi, EU Defence Attaché; and Pierrick Fillon-Ashida, Head of the Research & Innovation Section at the EU Delegation to India.

The Indian side also saw participation from senior officials such as Dr. Rajiv Jyoti, Director of IN-SPACe, M. Ganesh Pillai, Scientific Secretary at ISRO, and Dr. D. Gowrisankar, Director of International and Inter-agency Cooperation at ISRO.

Concluding the discussions, Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed his delight at hosting the EU delegation and acknowledged the strong interest shown by Commissioner Kubilius in enhancing space cooperation. He emphasized that space exploration will continue to drive progress and innovation, and that India and Europe are poised to further strengthen their collaboration in this critical field.