A three-day international conference on "Space Technology" will be held from October 15–18 at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and the US Consulate, according to officials. They said the colloquium, which would be held on the campus of IIT-Madras, will draw participation from national and international space agencies, government organisations, and the corporate sector with an emphasis on Indo-Pacific nations.
"This conclave will bring together major stakeholders in the space technology sector to explore ways to optimise business opportunities and collaboration across the Indo-Pacific region," said Satyanarayanan Chakravarthy, coordinator of IIT-Madras' National Centre for Combustion Research and Development. "Eminent expert participants will also analyse challenges, risks, and opportunities for entrepreneurs investing in these sectors." As an outcome of the conclave, the organisers aim to establish 'Association of Space Entrepreneurs in the Indo-Pacific', a networking and lobbying platform focused on innovation and entrepreneurship in the space sector.
Stakeholders will recommend a future roadmap to promote international aerospace business and scientific space collaborations. "The United States and India cooperate on a wide range of diplomatic and security issues and space is an important element of our relationship that draws linkages between our two nations in the field of scientific exploration, emerging technologies and commercial partnerships," said Judith Ravin, the US Consul General in Chennai.
