Chandigarh University Hosts National Space Technology Conclave with ISRO, Unveils 'Viksit Bharat 2047' Declaration

CHANDIGARH, INDIA — In a monumental leap forward for India's burgeoning space economy, Chandigarh University has officially cemented its status as an academic pioneer by hosting the prestigious National Space Technology Conclave (NSTC) 2026. Organized in close collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), the two-day high-stakes event served as a melting pot for policymakers, top-tier space scientists, institutional leaders, and trailblazing private space tech entrepreneurs.

The conclave witnessed the convergence of over 30 distinguished luminaries from apex space bodies, including the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), and the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC). Crucially, the event also brought to the forefront 10 chief executive officers and senior founders from India’s elite space-tech startups, bridging the gap between foundational institutional research and commercial aerospace manufacturing.

Making a historic stride toward aligning academia with national strategic goals, Chandigarh University became the very first institution in the country to unveil the 'Declaration on Space Technology for Viksit Bharat 2047'. Conceptualized through rigorous roundtables and expert deliberations at the Kalpana Chawla Centre for Research in Space Science and Technology (KCC), this visionary roadmap aims to institutionalize space tech education, foster cutting-edge R&D, and aggressively build a specialized talent pipeline to support India’s long-term aerospace ambitions.

Addressing the gathering, key dignitaries underscored the paradigm shift catalyzed by the historic space reforms initiated by the Government of India in June 2020. Dr. Vinod Kumar, Director of the Promotion Directorate at IN-SPACe, highlighted the phenomenal growth of India's private aerospace ecosystem, which now boasts over 450 dynamic space startups. He emphasized that structured financial interventions—such as the Space Seed Fund, Technology Adoption Schemes, and specialized venture capital mechanisms—are actively empowering young innovators to transform conceptual ideas into market-ready space infrastructure.

Reinforcing the commercial imperative, Sanjay Nekkanti, CEO of Dhruva Space, pointed out the staggering disparity between India's current orbital footprint and global benchmarks. While the United States and China operate thousands of assets, India currently manages approximately 55 satellites. Nekkanti stressed that the upcoming decade must witness an aggressive pivot from catering solely to domestic requirements to scaling up satellite constellations capable of servicing the lucrative global market.

Echoing these sentiments, Nilesh M Desai, Former Director of the Space Applications Centre (SAC) at ISRO, noted that institutional initiatives like the NSTC are indispensable in mitigating the acute talent shortage plaguing specialized domains such as satellite communication and deep-space navigation. By fostering direct mentorship between seasoned ISRO scientists and the next generation of engineers, Chandigarh University is actively de-risking the future growth of India's private space domain.

Prof. (Dr) Eswar Sunkara, Senior Director of the Kalpana Chawla Centre, reiterated that the newly unveiled 'Viksit Bharat 2047' declaration will serve as an overarching strategic blueprint. The initiative is strategically designed to transform the university into a regional powerhouse for aerospace research, ensuring that India's academic ecosystem actively contributes to making the nation a globally dominant, technologically self-reliant space superpower by the centenary of its independence.

"The collaborative synergy between premier academic institutions like Chandigarh University and national aerospace giants like ISRO marks a transformative watershed moment for India's deep-tech and startup ecosystem. By opening up the space economy to private participation, India has unlocked massive entrepreneurial potential, scaling from a handful of entities to over 450 vibrant space-tech startups today. Initiatives such as the National Space Technology Conclave and the pioneering 'Viksit Bharat 2047' declaration are precisely what our ecosystem needs to bridge the deep-tech talent gap, channel venture capital effectively, and transition our nation from a regional satellite launcher to a dominant global commercial space powerhouse." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes