The Space Industry Association of India (SIA-India) is set to host the India Space Congress (ISC), 2026, India’s premier space industry conference, from June 15-17 with the theme ‘Reimagining Space Reinventing Collaboration Realising the Next Era of Space’.
The event will bring together policymakers, global space agencies, defence leaders, diplomats, investors, industry captains, researchers, start-ups and academia from over 25 countries.
Participants include Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe; Christian Biever, Ambassador of Luxembourg to India; Ambassador Rakesh Sood, Former Ambassador and Special Envoy for Space Affairs; Dr Shailesh Nayak, Director, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) and Former Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences
Spread over three days, ISC-2026 will feature over 60 sessions, strategic dialogues, workshops and leadership discussions, covering topics ranging from satellite communications, direct-to-device connectivity, Earth observation, geospatial intelligence, launch systems, in-orbit servicing, navigation, defence space, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, space sustainability, manufacturing, investment, policy and international cooperation.
As the global space economy moves towards the trillion-dollar mark and India targets a USD 44 billion space economy by 2033, discussions at ISC-2026 will focus on the next phase of growth—market creation, investment mobilisation, industrial scale-up, strategic resilience, and global competitiveness.
Anil Prakash, Director General, SIA-India, said, “As the economy becomes increasingly dependent on space-enabled communications, navigation, digital infrastructure, financial systems, logistics and national security applications, there is a strong case for viewing space as critical infrastructure. At ISC we are deliberating upon this aspect that the CI recognition is not merely about protecting assets; it is about creating the conditions for growth which can help unlock infrastructure-style financing, improve access to long-term capital, strengthen investor confidence and support the development of globally competitive space enterprises.”
Dr Subba Rao Pavuluri, President, SIA-India, said, “To achieve India’s ambition of becoming a USD 44 billion space economy requires predictable regulation, stronger demand signals, risk-sharing mechanisms, deeper industry-academia collaboration and access to long-term growth capital. The discussions at ISC-2026 are therefore not only about technology and policy; they are about building the foundations of a globally competitive space economy capable of attracting investment, creating markets and delivering long-term economic value."
