IN-SPACe: Donning Many Hats
By Ashwin Prasad
An analysis of The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) as technology and policy goes hand-in-hand.
On 24 June, 2020, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved landmark space reforms meant to encourage private sector participation in the Indian space sector. As India’s private space sector began to grow, the Indian government released the Indian Space Policy in 2023 to offer more clarity about its vision and regulatory stance. Several governmental entities, including the Department of Space (DoS), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), have new roles as part of the reforms. However, the most important role is that of a new body - The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) created for this purpose.
Structure and Function
IN-SPACe is an autonomous body under the DoS that acts like a one-stop-shop for the space industry. It's a team of 12 members made up of bureaucrats, industry experts, academia, and government officials. They have different departments, including the Promotion Directorate, Program Management and Authorisation Directorate, Technical Directorate, and the Legal, Finance, and Administrative Wing. IN-SPACe has two main roles; being a regulator and a promoter.
Regulation
As technologies become critical and participation of the private sector becomes crucial from a national interest perspective, regulatory bodies need to exist and act at the intersection of technology and policy. As the regulator for the space sector, IN-SPACe is responsible for authorizing all space activities by players, including the government. Its primary responsibility is to ensure that these activities, which include the building of launch vehicles, satellites, ground stations, and data dissemination, adhere to safety, national security, international obligations, and foreign policy considerations. IN-SPACe serves as a single-window interface for inter-departmental coordination with several other departments and ministries, such as the Department of Space, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Department of Telecommunication, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Ministry of External Affairs. The Standing Committee for Inter-Ministerial Coordination, which comprises members from these departments, reviews and recommends authorisations for applications that require scrutiny from the respective departments and ministries.
To facilitate a paperless procedure for non-government entities to submit applications and gain approvals, IN-SPACe established a digital platform in 2022, and it has received over 450 applications so far.
Promotion and Enablement
IN-SPACe has also been tasked with promoting and developing the ecosystem and assisting non-government entities in the sector. It has taken on this challenge by undertaking varied and numerous initiatives and projects.
IN-SPACe has to ensure a level playing field in using all facilities and remote sensing data created using public funds. A Price Support Policy has been implemented to offer technical support from ISRO to the private sector and Earth Observation Data from ISRO Satellites.
IN-SPACe works with industry and academia to enable linkages. A total of 50 MoUs have been signed to date with non-governmental entities. To create awareness among academia, it has formed a National Committee for Adoption of Space Technology Education in India. IN-SPACe is partnering with the DoS and the MEA to establish connections between the Indian and foreign space industries. IN-SPACe has already conducted roundtable meetings with Australia, Italy, and Luxembourg and plans to collaborate with more countries in the future.
In-SPACe promotes industry clusters, manufacturing hubs and incubation centres. Start-ups can receive up to 1 crore seed fund assistance for funding, training, mentorship, and networking opportunities. IN-SPACe has established a Design Lab and a Technical Centre with computing facilities, test labs and clean rooms that start-ups can use for their mission planning needs.6 IN-SPACe is collaborating with various states in India to develop industry clusters. One such recent collaboration was with Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO) to establish a space industrial and propellants park. Another partnership is with Gujarat to construct a space manufacturing park.
IN-SPACe also facilitates technology transfers to non-governmental entities. Fifteen technologies developed by ISRO have already been transferred to private companies. Private companies can apply for technology transfer through the website. IN-SPACe is also in the process of transferring the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) technology to the private industry. This is a rare instance of a space agency transferring the full design of a launch vehicle to the private sector.
Strategies for Improvement
Establishing IN-SPACe is a positive step in the domain of technology and policy towards achieving the broader vision of space reforms. The principles behind this move align with the government's goals of self-reliance and promoting Indian manufacturing. The efforts of the government, IN-SPACe, and the private sector have resulted in a significant increase in the number of space start-ups operating in India, which has risen from one in 2012 to close to 200 in 2023. Investments in the Indian space sector have also increased from $6 million in 2019 to $125 million in 2023.
To make IN-SPACe more effective, the government must provide it with a certain degree of independence and separation. Although IN-SPACe is currently responsible for promoting and regulating, these two opposing mandates need to be separated. One way to achieve this would be to split IN-SPACe's various directorates into regulatory and promotional groups. The regulatory half must get statutory backing outside the DoS, while the other continues to operate under the DoS. Moreover, an adjudicatory body must be established under the same act to handle appellate functions.
Regarding the sharing of facilities, ISRO's schedule is already quite full, leaving little room for private entities to use the facilities. IN-SPACe's prioritisation procedures should ensure private companies get adequate access to these facilities. The government can build additional spaceports while IN-SPACe continues to set up more technical centres and laboratories.
Governments of nations with successful private space industries have acted as anchor customers. Additionally, mechanisms for risk-sharing in case of risky projects are necessary. IN-SPACe is well-positioned to act as a nodal agency to coordinate between ISRO, NSIL, and the private industry. This coordination can facilitate procurement processes that enable ISRO or the government to enter into contracts and agreements as per its requirements. Such processes can be of immense help to private space companies for investing in research and development and developing independent intellectual property.