New Delhi, 5th December 2024: SIA-India, an association for the space industry and Protoplanet have entered into a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster innovative research and capacity building at universities and institutes in the area of astrobiology, planetary sciences, microgravity, climate studies. This partnership marks a significant step toward advancing India’s space exploration ecosystem while promoting responsible innovation and global collaboration.
The exchange of MoU ceremony takes place at the prestigious Indo-Pacific Space and Earth Conference (IPSEC) 2024, between Dr Subba Rao Pavuluri President SIA-India and Dr. Siddharth Pandey, Director of Protoplanet. The ceremony was held in the presence of Mr. Amarjeet Singh Takhi, Consul General of India in Western Australia, Mr. Anil Prakash, Director General of SIA-India, alongside other dignitaries and industry leaders. This significant collaboration aims to accelerate international cooperation across the Indo-Pacific region.
SIA-India, a leading not-for-profit space sector association, is dedicated to accelerating industry growth and driving collaborations across civil, commercial, and defence domains. Protoplanet hosts a network of international experts uniting to provide a purpose-driven training and immersive platform focused on Climate and Space Exploration training for universities, registered in Bengaluru, India.
The MoU outlines several key objectives:
1. Research and Innovation Ecosystem: Collaborating on interdisciplinary projects at universities, startups and research institutes focusing on microgravity studies, planetary sciences, space robotics, and terrestrial analogues
2. Knowledge Exchange and Capacity Building: Hosting joint workshops, specialized training, and creating platforms for knowledge sharing and student engagement.
3. Technology Development and Commercialization: Driving innovation in space technologies and facilitating industry partnerships to bring research outcomes to application.
4. Policy and International Collaboration: Advocating for a supportive policy framework and fostering global partnerships in space exploration and research.
Dr Subba Rao Pavuluri, President of SIA-India, remarked, “This MoU embodies our commitment to creating a dynamic and innovative space ecosystem in India by leveraging our policy influence and collaborating with visionary partners like Protoplanet.”
Dr. Siddharth Pandey, Director of Protoplanet , added, “We are thrilled to partner with SIA-India to advance space research and education while empowering the next generation of innovators in the Indian space sector.”
This collaboration will remain in effect until the conclusion of the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2028, serving as a robust platform for capacity building and industry-academia partnerships in space exploration.