Need to scale up commercial applications of space tech to drive economic growth: former ISRO chief

New Delhi: India’s space sector is on the cusp of a significant transformation but there is a need to scale up commercial applications of space technology to drive economic growth.
Former ISRO chairperson S Somnath highlighted the shift required to unlock the full potential of space technology while speaking at a conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
He highlighted that while India has made remarkable strides in space technology, its application has largely been confined to government programs.
“The application of space technology has been focused on societal and governmental programs. Now, bringing it into the commercial domain and monetising it is key,” he said.
He pointed out that the penetration of space applications in India remains limited, with only about 10 per cent of the potential market being explored.
“India is a huge country with 145 crore people, but the application penetration is very small. We are serving only a limited domain,” Somnath said.
He stressed the need to convert space technology into viable business opportunities, citing examples such as fisheries, where satellite data could revolutionise traditional practices.
“We have been able to predict the presence of fish schools using ocean satellites, but this information is mostly disseminated through government channels. Has it made an economic impact? Not really. We need to create a business case where fishermen can buy this data to improve their catch,” he said.
Somnath also emphasised the untapped potential of satellite data in sectors like logistics, traffic management, and railway monitoring.
“Why not use space technology to monitor railway tracks instead of relying on physical inspections? Similarly, satellite data can optimise logistics and reduce costs,” he said.
He called for the creation of case studies to demonstrate how space technology can be monetised, particularly in areas like the blue economy, agriculture, and disaster management.