Magazine : 
India-USA Space Summit Highlights Tech & Advanced Manufacturing
The 4th India-USA Space and Geospatial Business Summit was brought together at Hyderabad focused on technology, policy alignment, and advanced manufacturing.
Organized by the Chamber of Commerce for Geospatial World, the summit invited key players in government, industry, academia, and research to take up and expand the opportunities available in innovation, economic growth, and sustainability in geospatial and space sectors.
The summit identified the potential for bilateral trade in geospatial and space technologies to grow from $2.5 billion in 2024 to $10 billion by 2030 and underscored how investment in technology, policy, and manufacturing can speed progress worldwide.
Sanjay Kumar, CEO of Geospatial World, pointed out that with a valuation of $1.92 billion, India forms a global hub for cost-effective geospatial services, as he highlighted the prospering geospatial industry.
He said, "The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the strength of geospatial technologies for innovation and collaboration, solutions that cut across borders. The India-U.S. partnership is India's most comprehensive strategically and cuts across trade, defense, education, and healthcare, providing a robust framework for innovation".
India's strengths in delivering high-quality, cost-efficient solutions complement the U.S.'s leadership in cutting-edge technology, creating a formidable partnership for driving global geospatial advancements.
Jennifer Larson, the U.S. Consul General in Hyderabad, underlined the fact that Hyderabad is a leading city in the processing of geospatial data. She stated, "Hyderabad processes more geospatial data than anywhere else in the world. Our joint initiatives in space exploration and geospatial technologies are taking us closer to the cosmos while addressing critical global challenges like climate change, disaster management, and food security.
Larson emphasized the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning to geospatial data which enables sophisticated analyses in taking on global issues. She, however, was optimistic concerning the future of the collaboration, saying:
"This partnership is not just about economic growth; it is about harnessing geospatial and space technologies toward addressing global challenges, improving lives and ensuring sustainability", she added.
"By the next summit, I hope we will witness bold advancements in areas like visa facilitation and expanded space cooperation, contributing to our $10 billion trade goal", she said in conclusion.
The summit discussions involved actionable strategies in technology transfer, advanced manufacturing for geospatial equipment, and making India a solution provider.
Dr. Rajeev Jyoti, Director (Technical), IN-SPACe, discussed the NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) Mission, which is an epitome of the synergy between India and the U.S. He further stated that the National Geospatial Policy (2022) and Space Policy (2023) of India have given a catalytic boost to the growth of geospatial and space industries in the country.
The global Earth Observation (EO) industry, growing at a CAGR of 16%, is projected to reach $8 billion, and India is poised to play a key role in this expansion", he added.
Srikant Sastri, Chairman of the Geospatial Data Promotion & Development Committee (GDPDC), highlighted the transformative impact of the National Geospatial Policy 2022, which empowers private players to acquire, store, and process spatial data.
He said, "As part of this initiative, we are overhauling India's mapping and data infrastructure to drive modernization. By stimulating private sector demand for geospatial data, products, and services, we are not only accelerating the industry's growth domestically but also creating a robust second avenue for expanding India-U.S. bilateral trade".
Sastri emphasized the role of geospatial technology in enhancing India-U.S. bilateral trade, positioning geospatial technology as a key driver of economic and strategic collaboration.
The summit called for enhanced research collaborations, streamlined technology transfer frameworks, and strengthened networks connecting businesses, governments, and research institutions.
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