India, France Sign MoU To Deepen Collaboration In Space Sector

India and France promised to have deeper ties in Space sector at Indian Space Conclave 2023 held in New Delhi. Indian Space Association and France’s GIFAS signed MoU to enhance understanding of space industry capabilities and increase awareness of business opportunities in both countries.

MoU between ISpA and GIFAS, the French Aerospace Industries Association aimed to foster sustainable growth, promote innovation and advocate adoption of new technologies in France and India space industries. The MoU will act as an extension to the Indo-French relationship in the space sector and augment the individual and collective membership bases of the organisations through the benefit of greater international linkages for the members, according to the joint statement.

The Indo-French space collaboration has achieved significant milestones in recent years. Both nations have joined forces for India’s ambitious human spaceflight initiative, Gaganyaan, with France contributing to areas like space medicine and astronaut health as well as supplying CNES flight systems. Also, France's participation in ISRO's upcoming Venus mission in 2025 marks another significant leap, opening new avenues for international cooperation in space exploration. Both countries also pledged to enhance collaboration between their startup ecosystems, fostering innovation in the space sector.

Chairman of ISRO, S Somanath said in his video address, “The integration of private industries into every facet of the space sector marks a significant milestone, opening new frontiers and sparking innovation. I applaud ISpA for fostering an ecosystem that nurtures space startups, driving the growth of our space industry.”

As we engage in profound discussions on sustainable development, disaster management, business domains and geospatial policy, we recognise the transformative potential that the space sector holds for the betterment of humanity. Additionally, the imminent release of FDI rules will further incentivize foreign investments, propelling us towards even greater heights in our cosmic endeavours, he added.

Astronaut Thomas Pesquet from European Space Agency said that India is on the cusp of achieving the milestone of sending human beings to space through its Gaganyaan mission. The convergence of French and Indian leadership underscores the profound significance of space exploration and it is also playing a pivotal role in the battle against climate change, it is evident that our shared future lies among the stars, Pesquet added.

The dawn of a new era in space is upon us, where Indian private space industry will have a potential to play a pivotal role in every aspect of the space sector, Lt Gen AK Bhatt (Retd), Director General of Indian Space Association said.