US-India space relations shift from cooperation to co-creation: Ambassador Gor

Booth at Bengaluru Space Expo 2026. | Photo credit: PTI

The India-US space partnership is moving beyond traditional cooperation towards joint development of technologies, missions and business opportunities, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said at the launch of the ninth Bengaluru Space Expo (BSX) 2026 here on Monday.

With the launch of the US pavilion at the Bangalore International Exhibition Center (BIEC), Mr Gor said the partnership was entering a new phase driven by co-creation between governments, space agencies, start-ups and private industry.

“Our partnership with India is no longer just about collaboration. It is about co-creation. We are no longer just sharing data. We are co-designing tools, co-funding start-ups and co-authoring the future of human discovery,” he said.

The ambassador also reiterated NASA’s invitation for ISRO to participate in the moon base programme, saying the US wanted India “by its side on the lunar surface”. He also emphasized the need for open and rules-based space governance amid growing international competition.

The US delegation included several major commercial space companies, including Amazon Leo, BlackSky, IONQ (Capella Space), L3 Harris, Pellucere Technologies, Vantor Inc., VAST Space, Viasat and Voyager Technologies. Their participation is expected to provide an opportunity for Indian start-ups and companies to explore partnerships, investments and access to international markets.

The Expo also saw strong participation from other space countries. Australian High Commissioner to India Philp Green highlighted the complementary strengths of Australia and India in the space sector and the potential for closer bilateral cooperation. He highlighted the unique chemistry of the partnership between the countries, noting that while other nations bring heavyweights like NASA or Galileo to the table, Australia and India have complementary, contrasting strengths. “We have things you don’t have and you have things we don’t,” High Commissioner Green added.

Italian Ambassador Antonio Bartoli highlighted Italy’s expertise in advanced manufacturing and Europe’s long experience in space, with a large Italian delegation attending the fair to explore partnerships with India’s growing private space industry.

On the domestic front, Minister, Department of Space and ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan and IN-SPACE Chairman Pawan Goenka outlined the policy and institutional priorities for expanding commercial space activities in India.

A key theme of the discussions was the shift from technology transfer to deeper joint development and joint ventures. Emphasis was also placed on enabling Indian space companies to enter global markets and build international partnerships.

“Karnataka has a strong and vibrant innovation ecosystem with start-ups, industry, academic institutions and research centers working across a range of emerging technologies,” said N. Manjula, Secretary, Department of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology and Science and Technology, Karnataka.

Later, a technical session chaired by Anupam Sharma of the Ministry of Defense and DRDO explored opportunities for private space companies to develop surveillance, intelligence and secure communication capabilities for defense applications. Among the industry participants was Bellatrix Aerospace co-founder Yash Karanam.

The exhibition area showcased the expanding space ecosystem in India. The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) showcased its research, student innovations and start-ups incubated through its ecosystem.

Industrial entities also represented manufacturing opportunities. For example: Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO), among others, introduced aerospace clusters and investment opportunities aimed at attracting global companies to set up manufacturing bases in India.

With international delegations, private space companies, start-ups and government agencies converging on BSX 2026, the first day highlighted India’s transition from a primary provider of space services to an increasingly important partner in the global commercial space economy.

Published – 07 Sep 2026 23:22 IST