India’s first space think-tank to conduct research to size economy | India News – Times of India

BENGALURU: India’s first dedicated think-tank on space — Spaceport SARABHAI (S2) — based in Bengaluru with satellite presence in New Delhi, Berlin, Sendai (Japan), and San Francisco, was launched globally late on Wednesday. The think tank, which aspires to be global, collaborative and inclusive, will embrace the multidimensional nature of human’s space endeavors.
Susmita Mohanty, Director-General at S2 said the think-tank’s lens includes geopolitical, scientific, economic, legal, safety, security, sustainability issues related to outer space activities.
“…We would be engaging with ISpA and IN-SPACe and will undertake research to size the Indian Space economy,” Mohanty said during the virtual launch.
A statement issued later read that the think-tank would embrace multidimensional nature of space endeavors comprising not just science, technology, policy, law, but also history, anthropology, economics, environment, sociology, psychology, contemporary culture, art, architecture, design, archaeology and more.
Pointing out that it was conceived as a launchpad for ideas for a shared future, the statement read: Spaceport SARABHAI’s name is a homage to the founder of India’s space programme. While it officially came into being on October 2, it’s worldwide launch happened on Wednesday.
It added that S2’s goals are: Give India an international voice; foster international collaboration for a sustainable shared future; grow the body of knowledge that shapes critical areas of space policy, law, diplomacy; build perspective through opinion pieces, future projections, discussions and debates and transform India into a developed space economy by 2030.
With a six-member founding team comprising space entrepreneurs, researchers and advocates including a space law expert, S2 has initiated industry-sponsored management research.
“The debut involves doctoral students from IIM-Kozhikode researching topics of relevance to the Indian space sector, under the guidance of Professor Gopalakrishnan Narayanamurthy from the University of Liverpool. The topics are: Why do founders of Indian space companies incorporate their companies abroad? What style of procurement for satellite-based services can create the highest impact on local economies?,” S2 said.
The think-tank added that it aims to provide law and policy guidance to the Indian government through research, stakeholder feedback, opinion pieces and private outreach. While it is already in discussions with an Indian conglomerate about sponsoring a documentary about Indian space entrepreneurs, S2 is also talking to a renowned oral historian to engage PhD students to research and archive the space history of India.
“We will create new opportunities for the private industry and plan to liaise with investors and governments abroad to help Indian companies access global markets and capital,” the statement added.