Shri Jayant Patil [Chairman, ISpA]

Shri Dr. Jitendra Singh Ji [Union Minister of State (Ind. Charge) Science & Technology; Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, PP/ DoPT, Atomic Energy, Space]

Shri Dr. Sreedhara Somanath [Secretary, Department of Space, Chairman, ISRO]

Dear Representatives of the Indian Space sector,

Dear Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Namaskar !

I am most pleased and honoured, ‘over the moon’ I could even say, to have been invited to address the Plenary Session of this year’s India Space conclave as guest of honour.

Last August, I had the opportunity to take part in the conference titled “Creating a Space Ecosystem: A New Era- Igniting Young Minds for Space Exploration” organised by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in partnership with ISRO, on the occasion of India National Space Day. So it feels like doubling down on a frontline topic of tremendous importance for both India and the European Union.

From the outset, I would like to commend the impressive achievements of India in the outer Space domain, whether it is in space exploration with the successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission or in the space economy. The EU recognises India as a truly cost-effective and dynamic space power of the first order. Spaceflight mission Gaganyaan or Chandrayaan-4 lunar mission will further establish India’s ambitions, together with its aspiration to contribute about $44 billion to the global space economy by 2035. Congratulations for that !

In my address today, I would like to cover two main points:

• The EU policy approach to a fast changing Space domain;
• The perspectives for EU-India Space Cooperation; 

EU strategic view on Space

Our policy approach is informed by the recognition of the different dimensions and dynamics of the Space domain. The main space dimensions consisting of:

• Space Exploration: that includes deep-space exploration, research and experimentation in space, with new discoveries and new technologies that could be of benefit to mankind’s future. The EU takes an active part in this with specific missions;
• Space Commercialisation: A recent report from the World Economic Forum has projected that the Space economy will skyrocket, from the current $630 billion in 2023 to $1.8 trillion in 2035.  Space industry advancements like satellite manufacturing, launch capabilities play a pivotal role in the digital economy, digital communication and transport/supply chains activities, but also –soon - space tourism. The commercialisation of space could also include potential exploitation of space minerals, which will require to address significant feasibility and legal questions.
• Space Securitisation: this concerns both security & safety from Space with Earth observation, Climate monitoring functions ; but also Security & safety in space and space governance. As the space activities and strategic implications of Space grow, so does the risk of confrontation, underscoring the urgency for guardrails to prevent a future scenario of "star wars" in space.

As a result of these dynamics, the Space domain is fast becoming a competitive, congested and contested space. It is witness to overlapping dynamics of cooperation, competition and confrontation.

What the EU Does: EU Space policy and programmes

The EU and its Member states have long recognised Space as a critical domain of economic competitiveness, scientific sovereignty and strategic autonomy. It has sought to develop an eco-system of programmes and organisations that foster its ambitions. While the European Space Agency or Ariane or Galileo Navigation systems are well known, the European Space Programme implements space activities in many fields, such as Earth Observation, Satellite Navigation, Connectivity, Space Research and Innovation.

• Horizon Europe, the framework programme for research and innovation for 2021-2027, includes a joint “digital, industry and space” cluster with a proposed envelope of €13.5 billion (12,500 crores) to promote space related work.
• The Commission has embraced public-private partnership to deploy programmes with specific objectives and roles. For instance, to help companies break into the space business European Commission launched this programme called CASSINI to support entrepreneurs, start-ups, and SMEs in the space industry, including New Space, during 2021-2027. The initiative covers both upstream (i.e. nanosats, launchers, etc. and downstream (i.e. products/services enabled by space data, etc.). CASSINI includes a €1 billion EU seeds and growth fund. It has supported more than 600 New Space companies in the period 2021-2024 with many space start-ups that are now active worldwide. More than EUR 1.8 billion was raised by CASSINI-backed companies and 60 businesses accelerated.
• The Copernicus program, with nearly €5 billion allocated for the 2021-2027 period, is Europe’s flagship Earth observation initiative aimed at providing reliable data for environmental monitoring and has been a much sought-after service for EU partners in the world.
• As part of our integrated approach to space, the European Commission adopted in 2021 an Action Plan on Synergies between civil, defence and space industries to further enhance Europe's technological edge and support its industrial base, at the interface between defence, space and civil uses, such as cloud, processors, cyber, quantum and artificial intelligence. 

One of example of this, is the new Satellite Constellation named IRIS2 - Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS2). The system will support a large variety of governmental applications, mainly in the domains of situational awareness (e.g. border surveillance), crisis management (e.g. humanitarian aid) and connection and protection of key infrastructures (e.g. secure communications for EU embassies). While on the commercial side, it will allow mass-market applications, including mobile and fixed broadband satellite access, satellite trunking for B2B services, satellite access for transportation, reinforced networks by satellite and satellite broadband and cloud-based services.

• The EU developed a specific policy framework for its Space security strategy to better assess risks and better protect our space assets.  Sat-Cen, an EU agency, provides more direct support to EU security and defence policy and missions and operations through the exploitation of relevant assets like sat-imagery for risk mapping and situational awareness.

While developing its Space activities across the board, the EU has always sought to develop partnerships. This is in our DNA. We will always try to work in concert with partners whenever possible.

A space for cooperation between EU and India

Europe and India have a longstanding history of cooperation between space agencies, both at the EU and Member States’ level.

The EU-India Roadmap 2025 that provides the frame of priorities for our bilateral cooperation for the period 2020-2025, makes provisions for Space cooperation. Yet, this is an area where is space for improvement, given the immense potential that exists.

India and the European Union have many reasons to see each other as ‘natural partners’ in the space domain.

• Both the European Union and India are consolidating their roles as influential space powers, each pursuing strategic autonomy in space, enhancing their independence in navigation, earth observation, and communication technologies.
• Both have established thriving space industries that contribute significantly to their economies and drive innovation.
• The EU and India share mutual interests in peaceful space utilization and can leverage their expertise for joint projects in areas like space exploration, climate monitoring, and cybersecurity.
• As space becomes more contested, both are positioned to play key roles in shaping international norms and regulations to ensure space remains a safe, accessible, and sustainable environment for all, contributing to stability and responsible use of space resources.

EU – India Space collaboration can be guided by opportunities and complementarities, such as:

• Scientific cooperation in exploration and earth observation, which offer critical benefits for both civilian and security applications, fostering mutual advancements and trust. India’s ongoing collaboration with Copernicus, including participation in joint projects like the Global Land Cover initiative, strengthens our ability to address climate challenges, enhance our response capabilities to disasters and support the sustainable management of natural resources.
• Cooperation in cross-skilling and training as well as match-making between European and India is another area of possible cooperation (IN-SPACe /ISRO and CASSINI).   We also appreciate that the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UN OOSA) has established the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for Asia and the Pacific (CSSTE-AP) in India.
• For EU member states and Space agencies, Indian launchers and space vehicles represent interesting vectors of diversification and scaling-up.
• As agreed by both sides in the 2^nd Security and Defence Consultations last May, we are currently exploring the possibility to expand our cooperation to Space security to align our assessments of challenges and common responses to security challenges in the Space domain.

Space diplomacy at multilateral level. The UN remains a key forum for the EU, to forge pragmatic steps through a responsible behaviour approach towards strengthening international security and stability in space. The EU would look forward to cooperating with India with the aim of safeguarding the long-term use of the space environment for peaceful purposes.  The voluntary ICG (International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems) as well as the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) under the UN umbrella are important places for fostering responsible practices. Preventing destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite (ASAT) missile tests and an arms race in outer space are essential for the strengthening of international security and stability, consistent with the long-standing principles contained in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. In this respect, space governance must also adapt, building on the Outer Space Treaty, by addressing new challenges such as space traffic management or space debris management. The Space should not become a ‘wild West’.

Conclusion

Next year in 2025, Delhi will host the next India-EU Summit, with leaders on both sides aiming at taking our bilateral strategic partnership to a new level.

As we engage in the preparation of this crucial event, both sides have the opportunity to reflect and design the contours of their cooperation on Space. Ideas such as the setting up of a High level dialogue on Space, backed by concrete joint cooperation schemes, and government-to-government consultations backed by respective private sectors cooperation, are some of the concrete avenues to make this a mutually beneficial endeavour. So let’s shoot for the stars !

Thank you for your attention.