Page 27 - Mann Ki Baat English

This shift matters because
space is inherently global.
Satellites operate across
borders, launch vehicles serve
to longer-horizon ventures. The
international customers, and
Government of India continues
breakthrough innovation requires
to help the market mature: the
partnerships across continents.
recent order for a consortium
When India is recognised
of satellite startups to develop
as an innovation hub, these
an indigenously built earth
partnerships become natural
observation constellation is an
rather than exceptional.
example.
The Higher Orbit
Such market-making efforts
The confidence that Startup
should be continued.
India created didn't just change
how the world sees us. It changed NASA's commercial cargo
and crew programs transformed
how we see ourselves.
American space startups from
The impact of these changes
is felt in the corridors of India's aspirational ventures to viable
colleges and universities too. businesses — SpaceX and others
Engineering graduates treat didn't just receive funding; they
entrepreneurship as a genuine received assured customers and
option. They're developing rocket credibility. The European Space
engines and satellite systems Agency has also taken a leaf
because India has committed out of this model by supporting
— through policy, capital, and launch service providers through
institutional support to back anchor tenancy programs.
their ambitions. They are boldly A similar model can be the
building for tomorrow knowing foundation for India's space
today's India sees them as the startups to scale globally.
future. As Startup India enters its
This is the foundation that second decade, the story shifts
will be built on in Startup India’s from validation to scale. The
next decade. Whether launching first decade answered whether
50 rockets a year or developing private space entrepreneurship
cutting-edge semiconductors, could work in India. The next
deep-tech sectors operate on decade will determine how
different timelines than software dominant Indian deep-tech can
— development cycles span become globaly.
years, and capital needs are It's no longer about going
measured differently. from zero to one. It's about
The ecosystem has already going from one to infinity—from
begun adapting to this reality. domestic success to global
Patient capital is finding its way leadership.

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