ISRO Chief Calls for Increased Collaboration with Private Sector as Space Budget Insufficient

Bengaluru: TheChairman of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), S. Somnath, has emphasized the need for greater collaboration between the public and private sectors in space research to achieve advancements in India's space technology.

In an interactive session organised by the Department of Social Welfare at the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions' Society (KRIES) that drew participation from students and teachers of over 800 schools across the country, Somnath highlighted the limitations of India's current space budget. He stated that the Rs 12,000-crore allocation to the space sector was a "very small" amount.

The ISRO Chief stressed that this funding inadequacy would hinder India's ability to compete with other nations in the field of space research and technology development. Somnath stressed the importance of partnerships with private companies to develop innovative space solutions that could lead to advancements in fields like space exploration, environmental monitoring, and resource management.

The interactive session was part of a series of initiatives aimed at engaging young minds with ISRO's space-related activities and fostering awareness about the agency's contributions to India's development. Somnath's comments emphasize the need for increased economic participation from the private sector in driving innovation and progress in space research.