A study specially conducted by Dassault Systèmes and conducted by satsearch, has identified more than 165 SMEs in India that are contributing to the transformation of the country's space sector. Small firms, state-run institutions, academic institutions, publicly traded companies and large private companies constitute the overall list of 281 organisations in the space ecosystem, according to the study.
Considered as 'NewSpace' companies, the majority are clustered in Bengaluru and other cities in the south. While the study puts the focus on ‘digitalization’ as a key driver of commercial achievement in NewSpace, it also underscores the lower maturity of adoption of digital tools and resources by the Indian space businesses.
The study found that to develop end-to-end launch vehicles and satellites, the NewSpace companies can leverage and integrate with the foundation set up by over five decades of Indian space activities. This could aid the companies to grow internationally, opening up new markets and revenue streams. Nevertheless, this will only be achieved if companies can harness the huge potential of digital technologies and processes to enhance production.
Only a fifth of respondents reported themselves as 'expert' in the use of digital technologies while around two-thirds stated they were at a 'beginner' or 'intermediate' level. Digital technologies form the foundation of the ability to create original IP (Intellectual Property) in the space industry. They can also empower organisations to produce state-of-the-art, innovative products and services.
“A foundational understanding of the supplier landscape has become increasingly important, as reforms to open up space activities to Indian private industry are being undertaken by the Government. We found that digitalization has been identified by these companies as a key driver of commercial success in NewSpace and, for that, a connected development ecosystem and manufacturing workflow is vital for businesses to realise the opportunities that the NewSpace sector offers,” stated Narayan Prasad, Chief Operations Officer, satsearch, in a statement.
“The NewSpace companies in India can disrupt the space exploration and satellite industry as they race to produce increasingly sophisticated satellites and reusable launchers. Speed of innovation will be crucial here. By integrating digital technology into product development, companies can accelerate the product lifecycle from concept to take-off and gain the strategic advantage of first-to-market. We hosted a ‘Conference on Evolving NewSpace Ecosystem in India’ in Bengaluru to provide a platform for industry leaders, innovators and subject matter experts to interact and discuss areas of collaboration,” stated Deepak NG, Managing Director, India, Dassault Systèmes in a statement.
Dassault Systèmes’ cloud-based 3DEXPERIENCE platform provides integrated solutions that can help the NewSpace players to thrive. It strengthens their ability to design and manufacture sustainable ‘first-time-right’ rocketry and satellite systems with the required quality at lower costs and faster delivery of satellites into orbit. It is used to create virtual twin experiences, which are accurate and executable virtual models of physical operations that permit companies to evaluate multiple what-if scenarios with ease and speed.
